Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, a prominent critic of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) pandemic policies, has been appointed the agency’s acting director by the Trump administration as part of a broader leadership shake-up at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

Bhattacharya, currently the director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), will retain that position while assuming temporary leadership at the Atlanta-based CDC, which is charged with protecting Americans from public health threats and issuing guidance on vaccines, disease control, and health emergencies. He replaces Jim O’Neill, who had been serving as acting CDC director and is being considered for nomination to lead the National Science Foundation.

The move marks the third leadership change at the CDC in less than a year, following the ouster of Senate-confirmed Director Susan Monarez in 2025 amid internal disagreements over vaccine policy and public health guidance. O’Neill served in an acting capacity after her departure. Bhattacharya’s appointment underscores ongoing efforts by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and the White House to reshape federal public health leadership ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.

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Bhattacharya is a physician, economist, and former Stanford University professor who gained national attention during the COVID-19 pandemic for co-authoring the Great Barrington Declaration, which advocated ending widespread lockdowns and focusing protection on vulnerable populations — positions that drew sharp criticism from many public health officials. He has also been outspoken about what he described as shortcomings in the CDC’s pandemic response, including comments that the agency “peddled pseudo-science” regarding masking.

While he has criticised certain public health measures, Bhattacharya has emphasised his support for routine childhood immunizations; during a recent Senate hearing, he reiterated support for vaccination against diseases such as measles.

Bhattacharya’s dual leadership role places him at the helm of two of the United States’ most influential health institutions during a period of considerable controversy and public scepticism about federal health guidance. A permanent successor for the CDC directorship will require nomination by the president and confirmation by the U.S. Senate; until then, Bhattacharya will serve in an acting capacity.

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