on February 18, 2026 at 7:06 pm NIH Director Dr. Jay Bhattacharya will step in as acting CDC director, the latest move by the Trump administration to steady the leadership ranks at the Department of Health and Human ServicesLiz Essley WhyteBy aumnamaah@gmail.com / February 18, 2026 Dr. Jay Bhattacharya will temporarily lead the agency, which hasn’t had a Senate-confirmed director since August
