RFK Jr. deputy Jim O’Neill to serve as acting leader of U.S. CDC
Jim O’Neill, a former investor and critic of health regulations, has been appointed as the interim director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) by President Donald Trump. O’Neill replaces Susan Monarez, who was forced out after less than a month in the position for refusing to comply with what she deemed unscientific directives.
O’Neill, who previously served as Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) under George W. Bush, has a background in finance and humanities rather than medicine or healthcare. He has been tasked with leading the CDC during a time of turmoil, with firings and resignations shaking the agency.
Despite his lack of experience in public health, O’Neill is expected to work closely with CDC staff and announce new additions to the agency’s leadership team in the coming weeks. His appointment comes amidst efforts by Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to influence vaccine policies, with O’Neill’s stance on vaccines aligning with traditional CDC recommendations.
While O’Neill has ties to the libertarian wing of the Republican Party and has been critical of certain aspects of federal bureaucracy, he has not been associated with Kennedy’s anti-vaccine movement. He has also expressed support for the CDC’s role in overseeing vaccines and public health measures.
As the acting director of the CDC, O’Neill faces a time limit of 210 days before he must step aside or be formally nominated to the position. This period will be crucial for O’Neill to navigate the challenges facing the agency, including the reshaping of vaccine policies and the departure of key CDC leaders.
In the midst of these changes, O’Neill’s leadership will be closely watched to see how he balances the demands of his dual roles at HHS and CDC. With the future of the agency hanging in the balance, O’Neill’s actions in the coming months will have a significant impact on public health and disease prevention efforts in the United States.
