Demetre Daskalakis Resigns from CDC Amidst Broader Leadership Exodus and Policy Disputes

Atlanta, GA – Dr. Demetre Daskalakis, the outgoing Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases (NCIRD), has resigned from his post, citing concerns over the politicization of science and public health policy. His departure, effective August 28, 2025, follows the controversial firing of CDC Director Susan Monarez and the resignations of several other senior agency officials.

Daskalakis, a prominent public health expert known for his work in HIV prevention and mpox response, expressed his inability to serve in an environment where the CDC is treated as "a tool to generate policies and materials that do not reflect scientific reality." In his resignation, he condemned what he described as an "unprecedented lack of transparency" and "politically driven data mismanagement" under Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

The resignations, which include Chief Medical Officer Debra Houry and Daniel Jernigan, Director of the National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, underscore a growing rift within the nation's premier public health agency. These exits come after Secretary Kennedy implemented sweeping changes to vaccine policies, including the halting of 22 mRNA vaccine development projects totaling $500 million and the replacement of the CDC's expert vaccine advisory panel members.

Speaking to ABC, Daskalakis stated, "From my vantage point as a doctor who’s taken the Hippocratic Oath, I only see harm coming." He further elaborated that new members of the Advisory Committee for Immunization Practices (ACIP) are "moving in an ideological direction where they want to see the undoing of vaccination," particularly for mRNA vaccines. This sentiment echoes the tweet from "katie wright," which sarcastically noted, "Claim Americans are in danger without his steady hand…..at the @CDCgov Yeah, I like our chances 🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄."

The broader public health community has reacted with alarm to the leadership upheaval, with many expressing concerns about the CDC's ability to maintain its scientific integrity and effectively respond to future health crises. Former CDC directors have collectively condemned the changes, warning of a "shattered" public health shield and a significant undermining of the agency's mission. Employees gathered outside the CDC headquarters in Atlanta to applaud the departing leaders, holding signs that read "Save the CDC" and "Courage. Integrity. Heroes."

Critics argue that the current administration's actions risk dismantling decades of public health progress and eroding public trust in scientific institutions. The resignations highlight a deep-seated concern among career public health officials that evidence-based decision-making is being sidelined in favor of political agendas, potentially impacting the nation's health security.