CDC Deputy Director Jennifer Shuford to Leave Agency

By morganverity // 2026-10-30

Copy

Dr. Jennifer Shuford, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's deputy director and chief medical officer, will leave the agency on Nov. 12 after roughly four months in the role, the agency confirmed Tuesday. Shuford will remain in her position until shortly after next week's midterm elections, according to the agency. The CDC did not state a reason for her exit beyond a statement Shuford provided. In that statement, Shuford said she is leaving to spend more time with her family and thanked President Trump and Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for the opportunity to serve. "I am grateful for the chance to have served the American people," Shuford said in the statement, according to the agency. The announcement did not elaborate on the circumstances of her decision.

Appointment and Responsibilities

Shuford, an infectious disease physician, previously served as commissioner of the Texas Department of State Health Services. She joined the CDC in April alongside Sean Slovenski, who was named chief operating officer, under director Dr. Erica Schwartz. As chief medical officer, Shuford would have been directly involved in determining how the agency defines a measles death, a matter of increasing significance as the nation grapples with a continuously spreading measles outbreak. Her role would have placed her at the center of the agency's scientific and medical decision-making, including the classification of deaths associated with the disease. Shuford also coordinated the CDC's response to the Ebola outbreak in Africa and was involved in the decision to quarantine overseas Americans instead of repatriating them. Those duties reflected the agency's broad portfolio in infectious disease control and emergency response, areas in which Shuford had substantial experience from her time in Texas.

Transition and Successor Search

Satish Pillai, a career public health official, will serve as acting deputy director and chief medical officer while the CDC searches for a permanent replacement, the agency said. The CDC said it will initiate the process of identifying a permanent successor in the near future. The agency did not provide a timeline for naming a permanent replacement, and it was not immediately clear whether a search committee had been formed or what criteria would be used. The leadership change comes as the CDC continues to face scrutiny over its handling of public health emergencies and its response to politically sensitive issues.

Context of the Departure

Shuford's departure comes as the CDC faces criticism over the nation's continuously spreading measles outbreak. The agency is also in a dispute with Pennsylvania over its refusal to acknowledge several measles-related deaths, according to people familiar with the matter. The CDC has not publicly commented on the specifics of that dispute. Shuford's role as chief medical officer would have placed her in a position to be involved in how the agency defines a measles death, a definitional question that has taken on added importance as state and federal officials clash over the counting of cases and fatalities. The CDC's definitions can affect how outbreaks are characterized and how resources are allocated. The CDC announcement did not state that the measles outbreak or the Pennsylvania dispute were connected to Shuford's departure. Shuford's statement attributed her decision solely to a desire to spend more time with her family.

Reactions and Conclusion

CDC director Dr. Erica Schwartz said in a statement that she is deeply grateful for Shuford's outstanding leadership and commitment to CDC and public health. Dr. Demetre Daskalakis, who resigned from the agency in protest in August 2025, told The Hill in a text message that he imagines Shuford found her red line and that he fears what is to come next. During her time in Texas, Shuford gained respect from career CDC staff as she coordinated the state's response to a measles outbreak last year, according to people familiar with the agency. Her exit marks the latest instance of leadership turnover at the CDC, which has seen several senior officials leave since the start of the Trump administration.

Reference:

CDC deputy director to leave administration after 4 months. https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/6175616-shuford-to-exit-cdc-november/

Explainer Infographic