Meet Jim O’Neill, the new CDC head aiming to enhance Robert F Kennedy Jr.’s vaccine policy overhaul initiative.

The White House has appointed a top aide to Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr as the temporary head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This move is expected to support Kennedy’s goals of reforming federal vaccine policies. The chosen individual is Jim O’Neill, who served in the Bush administration and later worked with conservative investor Peter Thiel. This appointment comes after the firing of Susan Monarez, the former CDC director, who was dismissed after refusing to support unscientific policies, sparking widespread criticism and resignations within the agency. Despite having no background in medicine or infectious disease science, O’Neill has publicly endorsed unproven treatments and promoted conspiratorial theories about Covid-19. The CDC, already reeling from layoffs and a recent shooting incident, may hold meetings with vaccine advisers in the coming weeks, where new guidelines could be discussed. This move has drawn criticism from healthcare professionals, who question the appointment of individuals without public health experience to lead vital health institutions.

Source: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/aug/28/jim-oneill-cdc-profile