The CDC said Ralph Abraham was stepping away from his role as principal deputy director so he can address family obligations. File Photo by Erik S. Lesser/EPA-EFE
Ralph Abraham, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention principal deputy director and noted vaccine skeptic, announced Monday he’s stepping down from the role.
The CDC said he’s leaving the position as one of the top public health officials in the United States so he can “address unforeseen family obligations.” The agency provided no further details.
“It has been an honor to serve alongside the dedicated public health professionals at the CDC and to support the agency’s critical mission,” Abraham said in a statement.
The announcement comes less than three months after he was hired for the No. 2 position at the CDC.
Prior to his appointment at the CDC, Abraham served as Louisiana surgeon general. He caused controversy when he ordered the Louisiana Department of Health to stop recommending mass vaccinations in 2025.
At the time, he said the move was intended to rebuild trust with public health officials after it had been eroded by what he described as missteps during the COVID-19 pandemic. Abraham previously ordered state public health workers to stop promoting COVID-19, influenza or mpox vaccinations.
“Conversations about specific vaccines, and whether or not a vaccine is right for a specific person, are best had with the individual’s healthcare provider, who best understands their individual situation and relevant medical history,” Abraham wrote in a post on X in February 2025.
