Context:

The White House plans to delay nominating a permanent CDC director as the agency, already shaken by multiple leadership changes, searches for a candidate who aligns with Health Secretary Kennedy Jr.’s Make America Healthy Again agenda while avoiding his vaccine stance. Federal law imposes a 210-day limit on acting appointees, and the agency remains officially leaderless after a midnight deadline passed. A short list of candidates is being considered, with the search led by Chris Klomp and his deputy John Brooks. Dr. Jay Bhattacharya has been overseeing CDC duties in an acting capacity and will continue to do so until a permanent director is named. The evolving leadership choice will influence the agency’s direction and its Senate confirmation prospects.

Dive Deeper:

• The decision to delay nominating a permanent CDC head comes amid a broader leadership churn at the agency, which has seen three different leaders since Trump returned to the White House.

• Federal law requires Senate-confirmed positions filled in an acting capacity to be limited to 210 days, a constraint that effectively extended the interim period for CDC leadership.

• The administration is pursuing a nominee who can reconcile the Trump administration’s mission with Kennedy Jr.’s agenda, yet avoid endorsing his widely criticized vaccine position.

• Chris Klomp, who runs the Center for Medicare, and his deputy John Brooks are leading the search, with oversight of the process within Health and Human Services.

• Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, directing the NIH, has been running the CDC in an acting capacity and will continue to oversee delegable duties until a permanent director is confirmed.