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Jay Bhattacharya appointed acting director of U.S. CDC
Bhattacharya will take on the interim role at the CDC amid ongoing leadership changes within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
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Rwittika Chakraborty
- Sun, 22, Feb 2026
- 06:07 EST
- 14
Jay Bhattacharya / Courtesy photo
Indian‑American physician and economist Jay Bhattacharya has been named acting director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), marking a major shift in leadership at the nation’s premier public health agency.
Bhattacharya, who also serves as Director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), will take on the interim role at the CDC amid ongoing leadership changes within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
He confirmed the appointment to media outlets, saying he will lead both agencies concurrently until a permanent CDC director is named.
The move follows the abrupt departure of former CDC Director Susan Monarez, who was dismissed last year after less than a month in the position, and the recent tenure of acting head Jim O’Neill.
Bhattacharya steps into the role at a time of internal turbulence and debate over public health direction in the United States. His dual leadership roles place him at the helm of two of the most influential U.S. health institutions, each with distinct missions and large budgets.
As acting CDC director, Bhattacharya will oversee the agency’s wide mandate, which includes monitoring and controlling infectious diseases, conducting public health research, and guiding national health policy.
The CDC operates a network of laboratories and programs addressing issues from pandemics to chronic conditions.
Born in Kolkata, India, Bhattacharya holds both an MD and a PhD in economics from Stanford University and previously taught at Stanford’s School of Medicine.
He gained national prominence during the COVID‑19 pandemic as a co‑author of the Great Barrington Declaration, which challenged broad lockdown measures and sparked vigorous public debate.
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