Jay Bhattacharya Takes Dual Role as Acting CDC Director Amidst Concerns
Jay Bhattacharya, the current director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), was appointed acting director of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Wednesday. This marks the fourth leadership change for the CDC within a year.
Dual Role and Alignments
Bhattacharya will continue to serve in his role as NIH director, now taking on a dual leadership capacity. Observers have noted his close association with Robert F Kennedy Jr, the Secretary of the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and a known critic of vaccines.
Concerns have been raised regarding potential modifications to the vaccine schedule under Bhattacharya's leadership.
During his tenure at NIH, Bhattacharya has overseen reductions in research and staff. Similarly, the CDC has experienced grant cuts and layoffs, coinciding with policy adjustments on routine vaccinations under the current HHS administration.
Critiques and Concerns
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Leadership Style: Staff members have indicated that Bhattacharya has had limited involvement in the daily operations of NIH, leading some to refer to him as "Podcast Jay."
Jenna Norton, an NIH program officer, stated in a personal capacity, "He won’t actually run the CDC. Just as he doesn’t actually run NIH."
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Conflict of Interest: Bhattacharya previously criticized officials who simultaneously fund scientific research and advise on policy, describing it as a "deep conflict of interest."
Mallory Harris, an infectious disease researcher, commented on the irony, noting Bhattacharya's increased involvement in vaccine recommendations while consolidating power.
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Agency Operations: Jeremy Berg, a former director of the National Institute of General Medical Sciences, expressed little confidence in Bhattacharya's ability to manage either agency effectively.
Berg stated, "I think he’s safely locked up the position of worst NIH director in history. The agency has lost people and is barely functioning."
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Policy Direction: Experts, including Dorit Reiss, a law professor, have voiced concerns that Bhattacharya, being aligned with the current administration's agenda, may pursue new restrictions on vaccination.
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Covid-19 Response Focus: Berg anticipates Bhattacharya will continue to "relitigate the CDC’s role in the Covid response," noting his perceived obsession with past failures and his past criticism of former CDC director Rochelle Walensky.
Appointment Details
In 2023, Congress enacted legislation requiring Senate confirmation for the CDC director position. However, Bhattacharya's appointment is as "acting director," a temporary role. He can serve in this capacity for up to 210 days following the departure of the previous confirmed director, Susan Monarez.
Bhattacharya was confirmed by the Senate in March 2025 to lead the NIH, which qualifies him to serve as acting director of the CDC.
The HHS did not provide comments regarding the duration of Bhattacharya's acting directorship or his capacity to lead two large agencies simultaneously by press time.