Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, currently serving as director of the National Institutes of Health, is reportedly set to become interim head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The leadership change follows the dismissal of former acting director Jim O’Neill last week as part of a broader restructuring of the Department of Health and Human Services under Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.. O’Neill is expected to lead the National Science Foundation, according to reports.

Bhattacharya, a professor emeritus of health policy at Stanford University, gained national prominence during the COVID-19 pandemic for sharply criticizing lockdowns and federal mitigation strategies. In October 2020, he co-authored the “Great Barrington Declaration” alongside Dr. Sunetra Gupta of Oxford University and Dr. Martin Kulldorff of Harvard University.

The declaration challenged prevailing public health policy by warning of the physical and mental health consequences of prolonged lockdowns. It advocated for “focused protection” of vulnerable populations while allowing lower-risk individuals to resume more normal activities to build immunity.

Bhattacharya’s critics argued the approach risked broader spread of the virus, while supporters contended that extended shutdowns contributed to social isolation, increased substance abuse, and significant educational setbacks. A 2023 report from the Harvard Graduate School of Education found that many students fell months behind academically during pandemic-era school closures despite increased spending aimed at recovery.

The CDC has experienced repeated leadership changes during the current administration. Former director Susan Monarez departed the role after less than a month last year. O’Neill later assumed the acting position and faced scrutiny after the agency rolled back certain vaccine recommendations.

Bhattacharya’s interim leadership marks a significant shift for the agency, placing a longtime skeptic of its pandemic policies in charge during an ongoing reorganization of federal health institutions.