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Bethesda Today
By the People, for the People
White House Taps NIH Director Bhattacharya to Serve as Interim CDC Head
Bhattacharya will oversee both agencies until a permanent CDC director is nominated and confirmed.
Published on Feb. 25, 2026
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The White House has selected NIH Director Jay Bhattacharya, MD, PhD, to also serve as the acting director of the CDC, a White House official confirmed. Bhattacharya will oversee both agencies on an interim basis until a permanent CDC director is nominated and confirmed by the Senate.
Why it matters
The CDC has lacked permanent leadership for much of President Trump's second term, raising concerns about the agency's ability to respond effectively to public health threats. Bhattacharya's dual role overseeing both the NIH and CDC is seen as an unusual move that could strain the capacity of both agencies.
The details
Bhattacharya will replace Jim O'Neill, who had been serving as the acting CDC director for over 5 months. O'Neill, a former biotech investor, will now be nominated to lead the National Science Foundation. Bhattacharya, a health economist and Stanford professor, has publicly opposed some COVID-19 policies, including lockdowns and vaccine mandates. Any permanent CDC director nominee will still need to be confirmed by the Senate.
- Bhattacharya will begin serving as acting CDC director immediately.
- O'Neill's term as acting CDC director was set to expire at the end of March due to federal vacancy laws.
The players
Jay Bhattacharya
The current director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) who has been selected to also serve as the acting director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Jim O'Neill
The former acting director of the CDC who will now be nominated to lead the National Science Foundation.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
The current Secretary of Health and Human Services who fired the previous CDC director, Susan Monarez, last summer.
Bill Cassidy
The Republican Senator from Louisiana who chairs the Senate committee responsible for vetting and confirming the next permanent CDC director.
Debra Houry
A former CDC official who expressed concerns about the leadership vacuum at the agency and the challenges of Bhattacharya overseeing both the NIH and CDC.
What they’re saying
“This continues the lack of onsite leadership for CDC and puts all of us at risk if our federal public health agency isn't ready for the next health threat.”
— Debra Houry, Former CDC official (Healio)
What’s next
The Senate committee led by Senator Bill Cassidy will be responsible for vetting and confirming any nominee for the permanent CDC director position.
The takeaway
The White House's decision to have the NIH director also oversee the CDC on an interim basis raises concerns about the capacity of both agencies to effectively respond to public health challenges, especially with the CDC lacking permanent leadership for much of the current administration.
