CDC Leadership Gaps Raise Public Health Concerns

Washington — The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is operating with major gaps in senior leadership, a situation current and former officials say is constraining the agency’s ability to manage public health priorities and prepare for future emergencies.

Officials said that 14 months after Robert F. Kennedy Jr. became U.S. Health Secretary, 80% of the CDC’s top director positions remain vacant. They described the shortfall as an operational drag that has slowed decision-making and reduced the agency’s capacity to coordinate work across programs.

Current and former officials cited a range of effects tied to the vacancies, including slower productivity and added bureaucratic delays. They also pointed to disruptions in key data collection, including infant and maternal mortality statistics, which they said are critical for tracking health outcomes and guiding policy responses.

Daniel Jernigan, a former CDC official, said the agency risks lacking the experience and leadership needed to respond effectively to a future health crisis, including another pandemic. The concerns were framed as a national health security issue, given the CDC’s central role in surveillance, guidance, and coordination during major outbreaks.

In an effort to address the leadership gaps, former President Trump on Thursday nominated Erica Schwartz, a former deputy surgeon general, to serve as CDC director, subject to Senate confirmation. Trump also announced placements for two deputy director roles, steps presented as part of an attempt to stabilize the agency’s leadership structure.

The leadership vacancies come alongside significant workforce disruption. The agency has seen about 2,400 employees either fired or resign since Kennedy’s appointment, officials said, and another 300 staff members are on administrative leave. Officials linked the departures and vacancies to what they described as a politicized approach to public health.

They cited policy shifts that include reductions in recommended childhood vaccinations and cuts to funding for mRNA vaccine technology. Officials said these moves have contributed to internal strain and uncertainty, while the leadership gaps have compounded challenges in maintaining continuity across programs.

Key uncertainties remain, including how quickly Senate confirmation could proceed for the director nomination and whether the announced deputy placements will translate into sustained operational improvements. Officials also said it is unclear how rapidly the CDC can restore disrupted data collection and rebuild capacity after the scale of departures described.