Alto’s Dr. Ralph Abraham sworn-in as new Principal Deputy Director at CDC

WASHINGTON (KNOE) - Former Louisiana Surgeon General Dr. Ralph Abraham was sworn-in Monday as Principal Deputy Director of the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The swearing-in ceremony was held in Washington, D.C. by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr..

According to the CDC, the former Republican congressman will start his new position on January 5, 2026 in Atlanta.

As CDC Principal Deputy Director, the Alto native will help realign the agency with its mission as America’s frontline defender against infectious disease, the CDC said in a press release.

“I am honored to join Secretary Kennedy and Deputy Secretary O’Neill in their mission to reform the CDC,” said Abraham. “By putting sound science first — and checking our ideologies at the door — we can make the CDC a model for the world in infectious disease tracking, prevention, and treatment.”

“The CDC’s foremost duty is to protect the American people from infectious disease,” said Kennedy. “Dr. Abraham recognizes that responsibility. He brings the integrity, courage, and decades of medical experience required to restore the CDC’s standing as the world’s most trusted defender of public health.”

Previous Coverage: Louisiana’s Dr. Ralph Abraham named CDC Principal Deputy Director

The CDC has been without a permanent director since August, when Kennedy removed Dr. Susan Monarez.

Earlier this year, Abraham directed Louisiana’s Health Department to cease promoting mass vaccination, advising patients to consult their doctors about vaccinations instead. The internal memo, dated February 13, coincided with Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.’s swearing-in as HHS Secretary.