Bhattacharya’s dual role draws anxieties

Newsletters Morning Report 12:30 Report Evening Report Business Defense Health Care Technology Newsletter Energy & Environment Whole Hog Politics The Gavel The Movement

Technology Newsletter

NEWS Senate House Administration Courts Future America Media Campaign News Education In The Know Latino LGBTQ DC News Race & Politics State Watch Print Edition People in the News

POLICY Defense Health Care Energy & Environment Technology Transportation International Cybersecurity National Security Space Sustainability

BUSINESS Budget Taxes Personal Finance Lobbying

OPINION Columnists Congress Blog All Contributors Opinions – Campaign Opinions – Civil Rights Opinions – Criminal Justice Opinions – Cybersecurity Opinions – Education Opinions – Energy and Environment Opinions – Finance Opinions – Healthcare Opinions – Immigration Opinions – International Opinions – Judiciary Opinions – National Security Opinions – Technology Opinions – White House Submit Opinion Content

All Contributors Opinions – Campaign Opinions – Civil Rights Opinions – Criminal Justice Opinions – Cybersecurity Opinions – Education Opinions – Energy and Environment Opinions – Finance Opinions – Healthcare Opinions – Immigration Opinions – International Opinions – Judiciary Opinions – National Security Opinions – Technology Opinions – White House

Opinions – Civil Rights

Opinions – Criminal Justice

Opinions – Cybersecurity

Opinions – Energy and Environment

Opinions – Healthcare

Opinions – Immigration

Opinions – International

Opinions – National Security

Opinions – Technology

Opinions – White House

Submit Opinion Content

EVENTS Upcoming Events About

Supreme Court tariffs

Content from Google Cloud

State Department receives hundreds of calls on 24/7 crisis hotline for US citizens in Mexico International | 16 minutes ago

Jillian Michaels on Trump, RFK Jr. defense of pesticide: ‘Devastating’ Administration | 56 minutes ago

Trump swats down reports that top general warned of Iran strike risks Defense & National Security Newsletter | 4 hours ago

Coast Guard investigating swastika discovered in New Jersey recruit center Defense | 4 hours ago

Maher on Trump’s account of dinner together: ‘Bulls—‘ Administration | 4 hours ago

Park ranger fired for hanging trans pride flag sues Interior Department Court Battles | 5 hours ago

Pentagon raises concerns about ROTOR Act implementing DC crash reforms Defense | 5 hours ago

Trump puts Iran’s leader in double bind: Capitulation or risk of war International | 5 hours ago

Bhattacharya’s dual role draws anxieties

National Institutes of Health (NIH) Director Jay Bhattacharya’s influence over public health has grown two-fold now that he’s assumed temporary control over the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). And former staffers are raising the alarm.

The position of CDC director has been haphazardly filled over the past year. President Trump’s first pick, former Florida Rep. David Weldon (R), failed to gain support in the Senate, leading to longtime federal scientist Susan Monarez, the interim director, being nominated to fill the role permanently.

Monarez was soon pushed out, and Jim O’Neill, a deputy HHS secretary, was then made the interim director, making Bhattacharya the third acting CDC director in seven months.

Former CDC physician Elizabeth Soda, who resigned late last year, told The Hill that effectively leading both agencies is a tall order, regardless of one’s qualifications.

“You’re asking one person to lead two very, very big agencies, right? And even if it’s temporarily, I mean, I think the most experienced person — there’s no way that that person can meet such two important agencies effectively at the same time,” Soda said.

James Alwine, coordinating committee member of the nonprofit volunteer network Defend Public Health and professor emeritus of cancer biology at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, began his career at NIH.

He warned that these roles are too distinct for one person to handle concurrently.

“I don’t think Jay Bhattacharya can be trusted to lead either. But I think the size of both of these organizations and the missions are different, and I think it takes a specific type of person, a single person, to do each of these jobs,” said Alwine.

In an email to CDC staff on Friday, Bhattacharya laid out three principles the agency would follow under his rule: updating guidance “transparently” as new data emerges, ensuring every investigation it conducts reflects the “responsibility to the communities we serve” and strengthening internal review processes to enhance “accountability and openness.”

Welcome to The Hill’s Health Care newsletter, I’m Joseph Choi — every week I follow the latest moves on how Washington impacts your health.

Did someone forward you this newsletter? Subscribe here.

How policy will be impacting the health care sector this week and beyond:

Greenland PM says thanks but no thanks to Trump hospital ship offer

Greenlandic Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen is turning down an offer from President Trump, who has openly sought to acquire the island from Denmark, to send a Navy hospital ship to his country. “It’s going to be a no thank you from here,” Nielsen wrote on Facebook. “President Trump’s idea to send an American hospital ship here to Greenland is noted. But we have a public health system where treatment is free for citizens. …

Mounjaro ingredient cuts alcohol intake: Research

An ingredient in the prescription diabetes drug Mounjaro was found to reduce alcohol intake in rodents, according to a recent study. In the study, published in early January in the medical journal eBioMedicine, researchers in Sweden, South Carolina and Brazil looked at how the ingredient, tirzepatide, affected rodents. The researchers found that alcohol’s “rewarding properties” were lessened by the ingredient and that behaviors …

CDC No. 2 steps down amid HHS shake-up

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced Monday that Principal Deputy Director Ralph Abraham, the former Louisiana surgeon general, has resigned from his position after less than three months because of “unforeseen family obligations.” His departure comes amid a shake-up at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), with former interim Director Jim O’Neill being moved from the …

Upcoming news themes and events we’re watching:

The House Ways & Means Subcommittee on Health will meet Tuesday to look into “innovative ways to train our nation’s health care workforce.”

The Senate HELP Committee will hold a confirmation hearing Wednesday for the nomination of Casey Means to be the next Surgeon General, months after her original hearing was delayed due to her going into labor.

Branch out with a different read:

Blood test could predict when Alzheimer’s symptoms will begin

A new study conducted by Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis researchers found that a single blood test could predict when someone is likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease. The study, published last week in Nature Medicine, determined that a test to find the level of p-tau217 protein in an individual’s plasma can be used to estimate the age at which they will begin experiencing symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease, …

Local and state headlines on health care:

CT hospital, health insurer battle over contract, with patients caught in middle. Where it stands. (Hartford Courant)

Tulsa Health Department shares raw milk risks as Oklahoma bills advance (KTUL)

California’s striking Kaiser workers, without pay for weeks, feel the financial pressure (KQED)

Health news we’ve flagged from other outlets:

Pharma lobbyists focus on a surprising new target: the FDA (Stat)

As more Americans embrace anxiety treatment, MAHA derides medications (KFF Health News)

Fears of polio resurgence as US vaccine adviser questions need for childhood shots (The Guardian)

Opinions related to health submitted to The Hill:

Not so fast: Quick-moving AI leaves accountability behind in the dust

Why Medicaid has drifted from its mission — and how to fix It

You’re all caught up. See you tomorrow!

More Health Care Newsletter News

Hegseth says he’ll order random pizzas to throw off monitoring app

Gorsuch takes aim at fellow Supreme Court justices in tariff decision

Democratic leaders scrambling to prevent repeat of last year’s rowdy State of ...

Republicans eye opening for DHS deal this week as Democrats double down

France bars US ambassador Kushner from meeting government officials

Trump puts Iran’s leader in double bind: Capitulation or risk of war

Texas GOP Senate candidate: ‘It’s time for the next generation of American ...

ICE whistleblower accuses agency of ‘deficient, defective and ...

Senate Democrat: Trump has ‘no intention of following’ Constitution on ...

House Democrats announce first group of ‘Red to Blue’ candidates

Trump refutes reports that top Gen. Dan Caine warned of Iran strike risks

Senate Democrats unveil Trump tariffs refund legislation

GOP members call on Tony Gonzales to resign over alleged affair

Patel responds to Olympics backlash, says he was invited to locker room after ...

Maher on Trump’s account of dinner together: ‘Bulls—‘

Jillian Michaels on Trump, RFK Jr. defense of pesticide: ‘Devastating’

US Embassy tells Americans to shelter in place after Mexican army kills cartel ...

Republicans see political gold in Mamdani property tax proposal

2024 Election Results

2024 Election Forecast

Regulation - Administration

Energy & Environment Video Clips

Health Care Video Clips

Technology Video Clips

Transportation Video Clips

International Video Clips

Cybersecurity Video Clips

National Security Video Clips

Contributors to The Hill

Submit Opinion Content

Advertise with Nexstar

Journalistic Integrity

THE HILL 400 N CAPITOL STREET NW, SUITE 650 WASHINGTON DC 20002

Provided by Nexstar Media Group, Inc.

By clicking on any of the sign up options below, you confirm that you have read and agree to our Terms of Use, which includes a jury trial waiver and class action waiver, and that you have read our Privacy Policy detailing our collection, use and sharing of your personal information.

The Hill is provided by Nexstar Media Group, Inc., and uses the My Nexstar sign-in, which works across our media network.

Learn more at nexstar.tv/privacy-policy.

The Hill is provided by Nexstar Media Group, Inc., and uses the My Nexstar sign-in, which works across our media network.

Nexstar Media Group, Inc. is a leading, diversified media company that produces and distributes engaging local and national news, sports, and entertainment content across its television and digital platforms. The My Nexstar sign-in works across the Nexstar network—including The CW, NewsNation, The Hill, and more. Learn more at nexstar.tv/privacy-policy.

Provided by Nexstar Media Group, Inc.

Check your email inbox

Provided by Nexstar Media Group, Inc.

Thanks for registering!

Provided by Nexstar Media Group, Inc.

Are you sure you want to log out?

© The Hill

visit website