CDC Director Rochelle Walensky to Leave Public Health Agency

Rochelle Walensky to Step Down as CDC Director

Rochelle Walensky, the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, will be leaving her post at the end of next month. Walensky played a central role in the Biden administration’s response to COVID-19, overseeing the nationwide rollout of vaccines and implementing a federal vaccine mandate for workers. Prior to her role at the CDC, Walensky served as chief of the infectious diseases division at Massachusetts General Hospital and a professor at Harvard Medical School.

Walensky Reflects on Her Tenure

“The end of the COVID-19 public health emergency marks a tremendous transition for our country, for public health, and in my tenure as CDC Director,” Walensky said in a statement. “I took on this role, at your request, with the goal of leaving behind the dark days of the pandemic and moving CDC, and public health, forward into a much better and more trusted place.”

Biden Praises Walensky’s Work

President Biden praised Walensky’s work at the CDC, saying, “Dr. Walensky leaves CDC a stronger institution, better positioned to confront health threats and protect Americans. We have all benefited from her service and dedication to public health, and I wish her the best in her next chapter.”

Controversies Surrounding Walensky’s Tenure

Walensky faced criticism for providing teachers union officials with “unprecedented access” to COVID response guidelines, which the unions used to implement a “trigger” provision that would automatically close schools if COVID test positivity rates reached certain thresholds. Critics of the federal response to COVID argue that inconsistent guidance from senior officials eroded trust in the government’s public health agencies.

• Walensky admitted last year that the CDC made mistakes in its COVID response and called for a “reset” that would include staffing changes and faster data releases.
• Anthony Fauci, who retired from his longtime role as director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases at the end of last year, earned a special degree of criticism for his various recommendations regarding business closures, face masks, and vaccine boosters.

Despite these controversies, Walensky’s tenure at the CDC was marked by a commitment to equity in healthcare and a dedication to responding quickly to public health crises.