Opinion | No One Is Leading Our Health Agencies.

May 14, 2026 - 21:13

The top leadership of America's public health agencies sits largely empty. There is no permanent director at the Food and Drug Administration. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention operates without a confirmed leader. And the office of the Surgeon General remains vacant. This is not a temporary gap. It has become a prolonged vacuum at a time when the country faces ongoing health threats, from drug overdoses to emerging infectious diseases.

These three positions are not ceremonial. The FDA oversees the safety of the food we eat and the drugs we take. The CDC tracks outbreaks and sets national prevention guidelines. The Surgeon General speaks directly to the public about health risks. Without confirmed leaders, decisions get delayed, morale inside the agencies suffers, and political appointees or acting officials lack the authority to make long-term changes.

The absence is especially striking given the lessons of the past few years. During the pandemic, the public saw how much depends on clear, credible leadership from health agencies. Now, the lack of permanent directors suggests a broader neglect. It sends a signal that public health is not a priority, even as chronic disease rates climb and new variants of viruses continue to circulate.

Acting officials can keep the lights on, but they cannot set a strategic direction. They cannot build trust with the public or with state health departments. The longer these posts stay empty, the harder it becomes to recruit top talent. People want to work for a leader, not a placeholder.

The problem is not a shortage of qualified candidates. It is a failure of political will. The administration and the Senate need to move nominations forward. Until they do, the nation's health agencies are drifting. And when no one is at the helm, the ship does not stay still. It drifts toward crisis.