Overview
- The 210‑day legal cap on acting service ran out, which ended Jay Bhattacharya’s acting title at the CDC as the White House delegated him day‑to‑day oversight to keep operations running.
- The administration has not named a nominee, and an HHS spokesperson said Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and HHS operations chief Chris Klomp are working with the White House to evaluate candidates who would focus the CDC on infectious disease.
- Reporting cited about half a dozen people under serious consideration for the job, but officials missed their goal to put forward a pick before the deadline.
- The Week reports the CDC has lost roughly a quarter of its staff over the past year and faces low morale, with disease surges in measles, whooping cough, and flu raising concern about a slow response without clear leadership.
- Confirmation prospects look difficult, with Axios noting Republican centrists want a more moderate pick and the White House signaling caution to avoid fresh health fights before the midterms.