Following Jim O’Neill’s departure as acting CDC director last week, National Institutes of Health director Jay Bhattacharya will now lead both agencies temporarily. Monarez was confirmed as CDC director in July 2025 but was removed after just four weeks in the position. During her brief time at the public health agency, the CDC’s main campus in Atlanta was attacked by a gunman who reportedly acted out of “discontent” with Covid-19 vaccines. Requiring the CDC director to be confirmed by the Senate was meant to be a check on that power. White House spokesperson Kush Desai tells WIRED that Bhattacharya was tapped to serve as the acting CDC director because he has the “complete confidence” of President Trump.