Jay Bhattacharya

Jay Bhattacharya is the director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) who has recently been appointed as the temporary leader of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). He gained prominence for opposing Covid mitigations. This dual role has sparked concerns among NIH staff, who fear his attention will be divided, potentially hindering the agency's ability to address critical issues. The CDC is currently experiencing significant turnover, including the recent abrupt resignation of its principal deputy director. Furthermore, a CDC vaccine advisory panel meeting has been postponed amid legal challenges. Some experts express worry that Bhattacharya's leadership at the CDC could lead to the promotion of controversial agendas. Previously, during the Trump administration, the NIH, under Bhattacharya's leadership, ended funding for research using human fetal tissue from elective abortions.