Dr. Demetre Daskalakis, the former head of the CDC’s National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, submitted his resignation today—and drew immediate attention by using the phrase “pregnant people” and including pronouns in his letter. In his departure statement, Daskalakis, who identifies as LGBTQ, cited concerns that CDC policies no longer aligned with scientific evidence and are increasingly driven by politics.
His language struck a chord with the administration, with the White House signaling that such terminology is not consistent with its communication norms. The resignation comes amid a wave of departures from top health officials within the CDC, intensifying scrutiny over the agency’s direction and its shifting priorities.