CDC Deputy Steps Down as Agency Faces Leadership Turnover

On February 23, 2026, Dr. Ralph Abraham stepped down as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Principal Deputy Director, and the agency said the resignation was effective immediately. The CDC said he chose to step down to address unforeseen family obligations, and the agency thanked him for his service. The departure followed only weeks after Abraham began working at the CDC in January, leaving a senior vacancy at a moment of intense organizational change.

Abraham’s record as Louisiana’s surgeon general had already drawn national attention. While in state office he stopped mass vaccination campaigns and publicly called COVID‑19 vaccines 'dangerous'; he also expressed support for treatments such as hydroxychloroquine and ivermectin that were widely disputed by mainstream scientists. Those positions alarmed many public health experts and contributed to criticism when he was placed in a top CDC role without Senate confirmation.

The agency has experienced multiple leadership shifts in recent months, including the earlier exit of Jim O’Neill in mid‑February and the firing of a previous CDC director. Jay Bhattacharya, who directs the National Institutes of Health, is now serving as acting CDC director. A CDC vaccine advisory meeting that had been scheduled for later in February was not held, and lawmakers and health organizations expressed concern about how rapid personnel changes might affect public health programs.

The CDC’s public statement framed the resignation as a personal decision tied to family needs and praised Abraham’s efforts. Observers will watch how the agency stabilizes its leadership and whether scheduled advisory work is resumed.