White House names Jim O'Neill acting CDC director after Monarez ouster

The Trump administration has appointed Jim O’Neill, deputy secretary of Health and Human Services, as acting director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) following the controversial firing of CDC Director Dr. Susan Monarez. Monarez, who was confirmed just a month prior, was dismissed amid disagreements over vaccine policy changes advocated by HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., but she has refused to step down, with her lawyers asserting that only President Donald Trump can officially remove her. The firing triggered a wave of high-profile resignations within the CDC, reflecting internal turmoil and concerns about the direction of federal public health guidance. O’Neill, who has a background in both government and biotech investment and has expressed strong support for vaccines, is expected to lead the agency through this period of transition and oversee upcoming discussions on vaccine policy revisions. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt affirmed that Trump fired Monarez and that a replacement would be announced soon, while Monarez’s legal team disputes the legitimacy of the termination. The standoff highlights ongoing tension between the CDC leadership and the current administration’s approach to public health strategy.