Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, currently director of the National Institutes of Health, will assume the role of acting director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, administration officials confirmed Wednesday.
The appointment comes as the Trump administration continues its search for a permanent CDC director, following a period of leadership instability at the public health agency. Jim O’Neill, who had been serving as acting director since August, will be replaced by Bhattacharya, according to reports. Susan Monarez was ousted from the CDC director position after less than a month last year.
Bhattacharya’s appointment is notable given his past criticisms of the CDC’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. He was a vocal opponent of lockdowns and expressed skepticism regarding the effectiveness of masking measures, positions he articulated publicly while a professor at Stanford Medical School.
The move occurs amid ongoing debate over vaccine policy. Last month, the CDC scaled back its recommended childhood vaccine schedule, a decision that drew criticism from pediatricians and public health experts concerned about potential outbreaks of preventable diseases. Bhattacharya, however, recently told a Senate panel that he supports vaccination against measles, acknowledging the current outbreak represents the largest in decades in the United States. He also stated he has not seen evidence linking vaccines to autism, a claim that contrasts with statements made by President Trump and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Bhattacharya will continue to serve as director of the National Institutes of Health while also leading the CDC on an interim basis. The administration has not announced a timeline for selecting a permanent CDC director.
