Turmoil Continues at CDC as Top Officials Depart

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Facing ongoing turmoil at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Jay Bhattacharya, the new acting director, arrived at the agency's Atlanta headquarters last week to try to stabilize the situation. However, the administration plans to nominate a new permanent CDC director in the coming weeks, marking its first effort to fill the role since last summer and a series of leadership changes at the nation's top health agency.

Why it matters

The CDC is the nation's leading public health agency, responsible for monitoring and responding to disease outbreaks and other health emergencies. Sustained leadership changes and instability at the CDC could undermine its critical work and damage public trust in the agency.

The details

Jay Bhattacharya, who also heads the National Institutes of Health, took over as the acting CDC director last week in an effort to steady the agency amid ongoing upheaval. The Trump administration now intends to nominate a new permanent CDC director in the coming weeks, marking its first attempt to fill the role since a series of leadership changes at the agency last summer.

• Bhattacharya arrived at the CDC's Atlanta headquarters last week as the new acting director.
• The Trump administration plans to nominate a new permanent CDC director in the coming weeks.

What’s next

The administration's nomination of a new permanent CDC director in the coming weeks will be a key development to watch, as it marks the first effort to fill the role since a series of leadership changes at the agency last summer.