Five High-Level Departures at the CDC Raise Concerns Amid Organizational Changes
NEW YORK — The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) experienced significant upheaval as five top leaders announced their departures on Tuesday, marking a tumultuous period for the nation’s foremost public health agency.
The departures were revealed during a meeting attended by senior CDC officials, with five heads of various centers stepping down. This shift comes on the heels of three other notable exits in recent weeks, combined, these losses account for nearly a third of the agency’s senior management team.
While the agency has characterized these departures as retirements, official confirmation was provided to media outlets by two CDC insiders, who requested anonymity due to restrictions on discussing internal matters.
The news emerges shortly after the White House indicated its intention to nominate Susan Monarez as the new CDC director. However, the exact impact of this nomination on the leaders’ decisions to depart remains unclear. Earlier this month, the Trump administration withdrew the nomination of Dr. David Weldon.
Employees at the CDC have been anticipating potential staff layoffs and a major reorganization of the agency. White House officials are currently reviewing a proposal for workforce reductions at the CDC and other federal health organizations, although具体的内容尚未透露.
Experts like Jason Schwartz from Yale University have highlighted the enormous challenges faced by CDC employees, which may have influenced the decision of several leaders to step away from their roles. He noted that the future of the CDC appears precarious, prompting seasoned professionals to seek opportunities elsewhere rather than watch the agency’s capabilities diminish.
The latest leaders to exit include:
- Leslie Ann Dauphin, head of the Public Health Infrastructure Center, which supports state and local health departments with resources and guidance.
- Dr. Karen Remley, who led the National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities, overseeing over 220 staff members.
- Sam Posner, director of the Office of Science, where he managed more than 100 employees engaged in critical research and reporting.
- Debra Lubar, who ran the Policy, Performance, and Evaluation Office with a team of 65.
- Leandris Liburd, who directed the Office of Health Equity, a division created to address disparities in health outcomes exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Additionally, recent departures include Kevin Griffis, the CDC’s communications chief, and Robin Bailey, the agency’s chief operating officer, both of whom left amid this wave of changes.
With a core budget exceeding $9 billion, the CDC is tasked with safeguarding public health across the nation. As of early this year, the agency had over 13,000 employees, with thousands more contracted for various roles. Earlier this year, the CDC laid off 550 probationary employees, a move that has since faced legal challenges, resulting in reinstatement orders by federal judges, although the affected employees have yet to return.
Predicting the future structure and function of the CDC in the coming months is uncertain, leading many seasoned professionals to reconsider their positions within the agency.
