Chris Klomp, principal advisor to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), indicated a positive outlook for the nomination of a modern CDC director. The statement followed a reshuffling last month that included the removal of Jim O’Neill, former HHS deputy secretary, from his interim director role at the CDC.
Changes to vaccination policies initiated by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Have destabilized the federal public health apparatus, with the CDC at its center. His restructuring of the CDC’s vaccine advisory committee has likewise faced legal challenges, potentially leading to its dissolution. The CDC plays a critical role in protecting public health through disease prevention and control, making stable leadership essential.
“I am excited about the number of people I’ve had the privilege of meeting and interviewing, and I am remarkably confident that we will select… an excellent leader for this agency,” Klomp said during a health conference hosted by Stat News.
On Monday, a federal judge temporarily blocked key aspects of Kennedy’s vaccine reform, including most of his appointments to the CDC advisory committee and changes to childhood vaccination recommendations. HHS announced its intention to appeal the decision.
Robert Malone, a member of the advisory committee, stated on social media Thursday that the group was being dissolved and would be recreated to avoid a lengthy appeals process.
Responding to Malone’s comments, HHS spokesperson Andrew Nixon said: “Claims regarding our next steps are baseless speculation until they are officially announced by us.”
Another panel member, speaking anonymously to Reuters, said they had received no official confirmation regarding the government’s decision to appeal the injunction.
Richard Hughes IV, principal counsel for the American Academy of Pediatrics, which brought the lawsuit against Kennedy’s policies, emphasized that any changes to the advisory committee must comply with the laws cited in the legal proceedings.
“Any effort that does not result in a qualified committee chosen through a regular process will be challenged by us,” he warned.
The CDC has been under interim leadership since Donald Trump dismissed former director Susan Monarez in August after she opposed Kennedy’s plans. She was replaced by Jim O’Neill, who was then replaced by National Institutes of Health (NIH) Director Jay Bhattacharya during last month’s reshuffle.
