Chris Klomp, HHS's top adviser, spoke at the #STATBreakthrough conference about the search for a new CDC director. He said he is encouraged by the number of candidates he has met and interviewed and is optimistic about selecting an outstanding leader. NIH's Jay Bhattacharya was named interim CDC director last month as part of changes at HHS ahead of the midterm elections[1][2]. He replaced the demotion of HHS Secretary Jim O'Neill, who had led the CDC since August 2025 after Susan Monarez was fired for dissenting from Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s vaccine policy changes.[1][2] Her appeal led to the resignation of four senior CDC officials due to anti-vaccination policies and misinformation[1]. Under O'Neill, the CDC lifted broad recommendations for four childhood vaccines in January and approved a recommendation against early use of the combined measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella vaccine[1]. A federal judge on Monday temporarily blocked key parts of Kennedy's vaccine policy changes, including reducing the number of routine childhood vaccines[1]. The CDC faces budget cuts, staff reductions and controversy under Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a longtime anti-vaccine activist[1].