The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDP) has been without a director since August, following the departure of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. who allegedly fired Susan Monarez from her Senate-confirmed role due to her refusal to rubber-stamp changes to CDC vaccine recommendations. Jay Bhattacharya, head of the National Institutes of Health, had been acting as director but can no longer hold the position officially. This comes as the Trump administration attempts to restrain Kennedy's anti-vaccine agenda, which is perceived as politically motivated by its anti-vigiveness.