CDC Faces Leadership Changes and Organizational Challenges

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is currently experiencing one of its most significant periods of change in recent years. From leadership turnover to large-scale restructuring, the agency faces multiple challenges while maintaining its critical role in protecting public health.

Leadership Changes

On August 27, 2025, the White House announced that Dr. Susan Monarez was no longer serving as CDC Director. Her tenure lasted only a few weeks, having been confirmed in late July. Dr. Monarez’s legal team has stated that she has not formally resigned and continues to contest her removal.

The announcement was followed by a series of high-level resignations within the CDC. On August 28, Dr. Demetre Daskalakis, Director of the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, stepped down from his role. Other senior officials—Debra Houry, Daniel Jernigan, and Jennifer Layden—also resigned, creating additional vacancies across the agency’s leadership structure.

Workforce and Funding Adjustments

Earlier in 2025, the CDC implemented significant workforce reductions, laying off approximately 2,400 employees, or about 20% of its staff, as part of a broader reorganization within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

In addition, the agency has operated under incremental funding releases instead of full-year appropriations. This approach has impacted planning for several public health initiatives, including ongoing efforts to respond to the nation’s fentanyl crisis.

Data and Online Resource Changes

Since January 2025, the CDC’s online presence has seen substantial modification. Several webpages and datasets were removed or altered, particularly those related to disease prevention, environmental health, and public health equity.

These changes prompted multiple legal challenges, and in some cases, courts ordered partial restoration of the affected resources. The adjustments have generated attention from researchers, healthcare professionals, and organizations that rely on CDC data for planning and decision-making.

Security Incident

On August 8, 2025, the CDC’s Atlanta headquarters was the site of a security incident. A responding police officer was killed in a shooting, and the suspect also died at the scene. While no CDC employees were physically harmed, several reported stress-related effects following the event. The agency has since reviewed and strengthened its security measures.

Looking Ahead

The CDC continues to face a period of transition and uncertainty. Leadership vacancies, staff departures, budgetary adjustments, and organizational restructuring all come at a time when the agency remains responsible for managing ongoing public health challenges.

As these changes unfold, the public health community and policymakers are closely monitoring how the agency will adapt and how its capacity to respond to health threats may be affected in the months ahead.