Jay Bhattacharya to temporarily lead CDC as NIH Director

Dr Jay Bhattacharya, current NIH Director, has been named Acting Director of the CDC, taking charge amid ongoing leadership shifts in US federal health agencies and continuing his NIH responsibilities while guiding public health priorities.

Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, who currently serves as Director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), has been appointed Acting Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). He confirmed the appointment during an interview with NBC News. Bhattacharya assumes the role following a period of continued leadership changes across federal health agencies in the United States.

Transition at the CDC

Bhattacharya succeeds Jim O’Neill, who had been serving simultaneously as Acting CDC Director and Deputy Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The leadership change was first reported by The New York Times. O’Neill took over the CDC after the dismissal of former Director Susan Monarez in August, when she had served only 29 days in the position.

Monarez testified before the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions that Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. removed her from office because she declined to approve specific revisions to vaccine guidance without further review. Kennedy has denied her account. After her dismissal, several senior CDC officials resigned in protest.

Leadership Gaps at NIH

The NIH has also experienced significant turnover. More than half of its 27 institutes and centers currently lack permanent directors due to resignations, retirements, and dismissals. In September, Dr. Jeanne Marrazzo, who became Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases in 2023 following Dr. Anthony Fauci, stated that Kennedy removed her because of her support for vaccines and her opposition to canceling certain NIH research programs. A spokesperson for HHS has not responded to requests for comment regarding Bhattacharya’s new responsibilities.

Bhattacharya’s Background and Policy Focus

Before leading the NIH, Bhattacharya was a professor at Stanford Medicine and became widely known during the Covid-19 pandemic for opposing lockdown measures. Since assuming leadership of the NIH in April, he has overseen the world’s largest public biomedical research funding organization.

His priorities at the NIH have included expanding research initiatives aligned with Kennedy’s interests, particularly in chronic disease and nutrition. He has also encouraged the pursuit of high-risk, high-reward scientific projects and promoted replication studies aimed at confirming the reliability of research findings.

Policy Changes Under O’Neill

During his tenure as Acting CDC Director, O’Neill approved several significant policy adjustments. These included restructuring the childhood vaccination schedule by reducing the number of vaccines universally recommended for children. Guidance on the hepatitis B vaccine for newborns was revised, allowing mothers who test negative for hepatitis B to consult with healthcare providers rather than automatically vaccinating infants within 24 hours of birth.

O’Neill also modified Covid-19 vaccination recommendations, permitting individuals to decide in consultation with their doctors whether to receive the vaccine, replacing the previous universal recommendation for children over six months of age. Additionally, he requested the development of separate vaccines for measles, mumps, and rubella instead of the combined MMR vaccine that has been in use since 1971, following suggestions made by former President Donald Trump.

Ongoing Federal Health Agency Reorganization

Bhattacharya’s appointment represents another step in a broader restructuring of federal public health leadership. Both the CDC and the NIH have faced repeated transitions, interim appointments, and internal disputes over vaccination guidance and research policy. Bhattacharya will begin leading the CDC immediately while continuing his role at the NIH, as federal health agencies navigate continuing debates regarding vaccine recommendations and public health priorities.

Sources:

• Reuters: NIH Director Bhattacharya to temporarily run CDC
• AP News: NIH's Bhattacharya will also run the CDC
• Axios: NIH director will now run the CDC
• NIH Director Jay Bhattacharya will take over leadership of CDC temporarily