Former CDC official explains his decision to leave the agency

By Ailsa Chang,

Kathryn Fink, Matt Ozug

Published August 29, 2025 at 3:24 PM MDT

NPR's Ailsa Chang talks with Dr. Daniel Jernigan, the former director of the CDC's National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, about his resignation after the CDC director's firing.

Ailsa Chang

Ailsa Chang is an award-winning journalist who hosts All Things Considered along with Ari Shapiro, Audie Cornish, and Mary Louise Kelly. She landed in public radio after practicing law for a few years.

See stories by Ailsa Chang

Kathryn Fink

Kathryn Fink is a producer with NPR's All Things Considered.

Matt Ozug

See stories by Matt Ozug