White House Names New Acting CDC Director

Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, head of the NIH, will take over the embattled public health agency.

Published on Feb. 24, 2026

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The White House has announced that Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, the current head of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), will become the new acting director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Bhattacharya will be the third leader of the CDC during President Trump's second term, replacing the previous acting director Jim O'Neill.

Why it matters

The CDC has faced significant turmoil and leadership changes under the Trump administration, raising concerns about the agency's ability to effectively guide the nation's public health policies. Bhattacharya's appointment as acting director comes as the CDC continues to grapple with issues like the COVID-19 pandemic response and childhood vaccination schedules.

The details

Bhattacharya, a health economist and Stanford University professor, was an outspoken critic of the government's COVID-19 shutdowns and vaccine policies. At the NIH, he oversees the largest public funder of biomedical research. The previous acting CDC director, Jim O'Neill, had been overseeing controversial changes to the childhood vaccination schedule before his reported departure last week.

  • On Wednesday, the White House confirmed Bhattacharya's appointment as the new acting CDC director.
  • Bhattacharya will serve as the acting CDC director until a permanent director is nominated by President Trump and confirmed by the U.S. Senate.
  • O'Neill will be nominated as the next head of the National Science Foundation, the White House official said.

The players

Dr. Jay Bhattacharya

The head of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) who has been named the new acting director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Susan Monarez

The former CDC director who was fired last summer after refusing to sign off on changes to the childhood vaccination schedule without data to back them up.

Jim O'Neill

The previous acting CDC director who had been overseeing controversial changes to the childhood vaccination schedule before his reported departure last week.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

The Health Secretary who abruptly fired then-CDC Director Susan Monarez last summer.

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What they’re saying

“Childhood measles vaccination was 'the best way to address the measles epidemic in this country,' and I've seen no evidence linking any single vaccine to autism.”

— Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, NIH Director (Senate Hearing)

What’s next

Bhattacharya will serve as the acting CDC director until a permanent director is nominated by President Trump and confirmed by the U.S. Senate.

The takeaway

The CDC's leadership turmoil under the Trump administration raises concerns about the agency's ability to effectively guide the nation's public health policies, especially on issues like the COVID-19 pandemic response and childhood vaccination schedules.