Another senior leader has left the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), as Principal Deputy Director Ralph Abraham stepped down effective immediately, according to an announcement from the agency on Monday.
The departure comes shortly after acting CDC Director Jim O’Neill resigned last week. Abraham became the most senior official at the CDC until Jay Bhattacharya, director of the National Institutes of Health, took over as acting head of the CDC on Friday.
Abraham, who is a physician, former Congressman, and recently served as surgeon general of Louisiana, was sworn in by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on December 15, 2025. The CDC cited “unforeseen family obligations” as the reason for his resignation in its brief statement.
“Dr. Abraham led with clarity and discipline, advancing the CDC’s mission to protect the health and safety of the American people,” the statement said. “He worked directly with career staff and public health partners to strengthen national preparedness and improve the country’s emergency response efforts.”
Reports from NPR have described Abraham as a longtime ally of both President Donald Trump and Kennedy. During his tenure as Louisiana's surgeon general, Abraham gained attention for his skepticism toward vaccines and opposition to COVID-19 vaccination campaigns. He banned all vaccine promotion initiatives in Louisiana related to COVID-19, influenza, and mpox.
Additionally, Abraham promoted ivermectin as a treatment for COVID-19 during his time in office. However, clinical studies have shown that ivermectin is not effective against COVID-19.
