Soundbites from Dr. Jay Bhattacharya's CDC All-Staff Meeting on March 25, 2026
A workforce under strain meets a leadership team trying to steady the institution.
At a moment of deep uncertainty for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Acting Director Dr. Jay Bhattacharya addressed staff in a candid all-hands meeting marked by concerns over leadership instability, workforce losses, and eroding public trust. With a permanent director not yet named, employees pressed for clarity on job security, political pressures, and the agency’s future, while Dr. Bhattacharya emphasized continuity, depoliticization, and a renewed focus on delivering public health results. The excerpts below capture a workforce navigating burnout and skepticism alongside leadership attempting to stabilize the agency and redefine its path forward.