RFK Jr. deputy Jim O'Neill chosen as acting CDC director

Jim O'Neill, the deputy secretary of Health and Human Services, has been picked to lead the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as acting director, the Washington Post first reported and Axios can confirm.Why it matters: O'Neill's appointment could pave the way for Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to set his agenda at the CDC after a tumultuous week at the federal agency.State of play: The Trump administration's ousting of CDC director Susan Monarez has led to a wave of resignations and a walkout at the agency's global HQ in Atlanta on Thursday. Despite her firing, Monarez has refused to leave her post. Dozens of staff members and leaders at the CDC staged the walkout in response to the internal shake-up, and they cheered three officials who quit over Kennedy's policies.White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said at a briefing that day that President Trump and Kennedy are "committed to restoring trust and transparency and credibility to the CDC" and will "make sure that folks that are in positions of leadership there are aligned with that mission."Background: O'Neill previously held several roles during the George W. Bush administration, including principal associate deputy secretary.The biotech investor, who is close to Trump ally Peter Thiel, has been working alongside Kennedy since last November and had been tasked with implementing the "Make America Healthy Again" agenda.He publicly criticized the CDC during the COVID pandemic and advocated for treatments not supported by scientific research, like ivermectin, though O'Neill told lawmakers ahead of his confirmation as Kennedy's No. 2 in June that he's "strongly pro-vaccine."Go deeper: 15 photos from CDC rally for officials who quit over RFK policiesEditor's note: This article has been updated with new details throughout.

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