CDC deputy director abruptly resigns from role as agency reels from turnover

Source: The Guardian/Reuters

Mon 23 Feb 2026 12.52 EST
Last modified on Mon 23 Feb 2026 13.04 EST


Ralph Abraham, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s principal deputy director, has stepped down, the agency said on Monday, announcing the exit of a top official for the second time in February.

The agency known as the CDC – which is temporarily being run by Dr Jay Bhattacharya – said the departure was effective immediately and attributed it to unforeseen family obligations. It did not comment on who would replace Abraham.

Abraham’s exit follows that of Jim O’Neill on 13 February. O’Neill was acting CDC director since August in addition to him functioning as deputy secretary of the federal Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

Abraham was second in command at CDC and started there on 5 January. He was most recently surgeon general of the state of Louisiana, where he led a move to stop promotion of mass vaccination and criticized the Covid-19 shots.

Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/feb/23/cdc-deputy-director-steps-down