Washington D.C. – Dr. Ralph Abraham resigned Monday as Principal Deputy Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the agency announced, marking the second departure of a top official within the agency this month. The resignation is effective immediately.
The CDC stated that Dr. Abraham stepped down to address “unforeseen family obligations.” In a statement released by the agency, Dr. Abraham said, “It has been an honor to serve alongside the dedicated public health professionals at the CDC and to support the agency’s critical mission.”
Dr. Abraham’s departure follows that of Jim O’Neill, who resigned from his position as acting CDC director on February 13th. O’Neill had too been serving as deputy secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The agency is currently being led by Dr. Jay Bhattacharya in an interim capacity.
Dr. Abraham assumed the role of Principal Deputy Director on January 5th, having previously served as the surgeon general of Louisiana. During his time in Louisiana, he reportedly took steps to limit the promotion of mass vaccination and voiced criticism of the COVID-19 vaccines, according to reporting by The Guardian.
The CDC has experienced significant upheaval in recent months, including budget cuts and staff losses. These changes coincide with the leadership of HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a long-time vaccine skeptic. Kennedy Jr. Removed former CDC Director Susan Monarez in August after she resisted policy changes regarding vaccines that she believed contradicted scientific evidence. Monarez’s removal prompted the resignations of four other senior officials who cited concerns over anti-vaccine policies and the spread of misinformation, as reported by The Guardian.
Experts have expressed concern that the appointment of Dr. Bhattacharya, as interim director, may signal a shift towards policies aligned with Kennedy Jr.’s views on vaccination, according to The Guardian.
The CDC acknowledged Dr. Abraham’s service and contributions to the agency and the nation but did not announce a replacement as of Tuesday afternoon.
