A top U.S. health official said Thursday he was encouraged by interviews to select the next permanent leader of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as the agency navigates mounting legal and institutional turbulence over vaccine policy.

Klomp ‘Optimistic’ Amid Agency Turmoil

Chris Klomp, Director of Medicare, Deputy Administrator at CMS, and Chief Counselor at the Department of Health and Human Services, told a Stat News conference he expected a strong outcome from the selection process.

"I’m very optimistic that we will select an excellent leader for that agency," Klomp said. In his broader role, Klomp also oversees the administration's efforts on drug pricing, including TrumpRx and most-favored-nation policies.

The CDC has operated without a confirmed director since August, when President Donald Trump fired then-director Susan Monarez after she opposed Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s proposed vaccine changes. She was replaced by HHS Deputy Secretary Jim O’Neill, who was removed last month. NIH Director Jay Bhattacharya currently serves in an acting capacity.

Court Blocks Kennedy's CDC Changes

Kennedy's sweeping overhaul has shaken the public health apparatus. A federal judge on Monday blocked key elements, including most of Kennedy’s appointments to the CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) and recent childhood vaccine schedule changes. The court found the administration likely bypassed ACIP and replaced members without rigorous vetting, raising probable violations of the Administrative Procedure Act. HHS said it would appeal.

The advisory committee may be disbanded and reconstituted. Committee member Dr. Robert Malone said the move is intended to avoid a lengthy appeals process. HHS spokesperson Andrew Nixon declined to confirm.

Regulatory scrutiny under Kennedy's tenure has been ongoing. In December 2025, vaccine skeptics prompted reviews of infant RSV antibody therapies by Sanofi, AstraZeneca, and Merck, reflecting broader shifts in CDC and HHS policy affecting public health guidance and investor attention.

Markets Track Legal Uncertainty

The legal uncertainty has market implications, with investors closely monitoring Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE), GSK Plc (NYSE:GSK), Merck & Co. Inc. (NYSE:MRK), Moderna Inc. (NASDAQ:MRNA), and Sanofi SA (NASDAQ:SNY).

ACIP has guided vaccine use since 1964. Kennedy dismissed all members in June 2025, replacing them with individuals skeptical of vaccine mandates. In January, Trump reduced required vaccines from 72 to 11 for the most serious diseases while allowing parents to opt into the full schedule.

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