US less safe without permanent CDC director, experts warnKey takeaways:The CDC has not had a permanent director for 13 of the last 14 months. Image: CDC“Both are eminently qualified for these positions, and the White House has confidence in them to deliver on the President’s agenda,” the White House official said. “The concern is whether the acting CDC director is even an acting CDC director,” she said. The White House did not respond to specific questions about whether it would name a permanent CDC director. “Additional personnel decisions will be announced by the White House in due time,” White House spokesperson Kush Desai told Healio | Infectious Disease News.

Source: Wall Street Journal March 18, 2026 18:29 UTC