CDC Deputy Director Dr. Shuford to Leave After Brief Tenure
Dr. Jennifer Shuford announces her departure from the CDC after just four months, emphasizing family time.
Dr. Jennifer Shuford, the deputy director and chief medical officer of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), will be leaving her position next month after only four months in the role. This news comes amid ongoing changes within the leadership of the agency.
Reason for Departure
According to a CDC spokesperson, Shuford's last day will be November 12. In a statement explaining her departure, she expressed her intention to prioritize family time.
Shuford conveyed her gratitude to President Trump and Secretary Kennedy for the opportunity to serve at the CDC, stating, "It has been an amazing experience and I will be forever grateful for it."
Interim Leadership
Satish Pillai, who currently oversees the agency’s Ebola response, will step in as the acting deputy director and chief medical officer while the CDC searches for a permanent successor.
Background and Tenure
Shuford was appointed to her new roles in June, as announced by President Trump in April. Before joining the CDC, she served as Texas' chief state epidemiologist during the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2022, she was appointed commissioner of the Texas Department of State Health Services, where she managed the state's response to a measles outbreak that resulted in over 750 cases and the tragic deaths of two school-age children.
Leadership Challenges at the CDC
The CDC has faced significant leadership turnover in recent years. Shuford's exit is part of a pattern of leadership instability that has affected the agency, particularly under the Trump administration. Following the sudden dismissal of former CDC director Susan Monarez just about a month into her role in August 2025, the agency operated without a permanent director for nearly a year. Dr. Erica Schwartz was confirmed as the current director in August.
Earlier this year, Dr. Ralph Abraham, the principal deputy director, resigned, and Dr. Allison Arwady stepped down from her position as head of the CDC's National Center for Injury Prevention and Control.
Last year, after Monarez was let go, numerous senior officials announced their resignations, citing issues regarding political interference impacting the integrity of the agency's scientific work.
Community and Agency Reactions
CDC Director Dr. Schwartz acknowledged Shuford's contributions in an email to staff, stating her appreciation for Shuford's "outstanding leadership and commitment to CDC and public health," particularly during the challenging and rapidly changing landscape of public health in recent months.
Dr. Shuford's departure highlights ongoing leadership upheaval not only at the CDC but also across various federal health agencies this year. For instance, Calley Means, a prominent advocate for the “Make America Healthy Again” initiative, recently resigned from his senior adviser position at the Department of Health and Human Services. In May, Dr. Marty Makary stepped down as commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) due to disagreements with the administration's policies.