Dr. Jay Butler, the former chief medical officer of Alaska, recently resigned from a senior position at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This departure comes amidst significant unrest at the agency.
Butler, who boasts over three decades of experience in public health, served as the CDC’s deputy director of infectious diseases since 2019.
In a statement regarding his resignation, he expressed, “I think I can do more for the public’s health outside of the federal government at this time.”
While discussing his decision in an interview, Butler noted that he preferred to remain somewhat vague about the precise reasons for his departure. He remarked, “It’s time to move on and do something else,” and pointedly added, “I think when you look at why is it time, you can see what’s going on across the federal government as well as I can.”
Although he refrained from directly criticizing the current leadership at the CDC or citing any specific decisions from the second Trump administration that influenced his exit, he conveyed concerns about recent mass firings at the agency and certain COVID-19 vaccination guidelines.
Reports indicate that in April, more than 2,400 employees at the CDC were set to be dismissed, leading Butler to lament the significant loss of expertise and experience within the agency.
He emphasized that younger employees, eager and motivated by the mission of public health, were often among the first to be let go. Butler stated, “We’ve lost a lot of good people.
And truly assets to our nation have been lost. And I think that’s most unfortunate.”
With the CDC’s mission centering on protecting America from various health threats and diseases, Butler described his time at the organization as a “joy.” He referred to the CDC as “an incredible blessing to our country and to the entire world.”
Yet, he acknowledged the agency’s imperfections, noting that the past few years have been particularly challenging.
When questioned about potential political interference at the CDC during the Trump administration, Butler opted to remain reticent. However, he did voice critiques regarding recent vaccination guidance issued by U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has a history of skepticism towards vaccines and has perpetuated conspiracy theories about immunizations.
Specifically, Butler questioned Kennedy’s assertion that the COVID-19 vaccine would no longer be recommended for pregnant women or healthy children.
Butler stated, “I’m particularly puzzled by that decision,” pointing out, “There’s quite a bit of data that supports the safety of COVID vaccines during pregnancy. So that’s one where I think many of us are scratching our heads.”
Reflecting on his career, Butler shared that he had worked on HIV/AIDS prevention at the CDC early on. He expressed concern about the fate of a successful HIV program that has saved an estimated 26 million lives, noting that it needs reauthorization but is currently stalled.
Butler voiced apprehensions regarding the declining focus on HIV transmission in Africa, stating, “We’re not looking at a bright future in terms of HIV control.”
In a recent health concern, a juvenile in Anchorage tested positive for measles, coinciding with over 1,000 cases reported across 11 states. The CDC maintains that a comprehensive vaccination program was integral to the elimination of measles in the U.S. in 2000.
However, Butler pointed out that Kennedy faced criticism for not advocating strongly for vaccines as a preventive measure against measles.
He remarked on the historical effectiveness of the measles vaccine, stating it has an “excellent track record” over the years.
Paradoxically, he suggested that this success might contribute to public health challenges. He explained, “We’re the victim of our own success. When we’re doing our job well, we’re not in the headlines and people forget.”
Butler emphasized the potential resurgence of diseases like measles and polio, which once instilled fear in society but are now often overlooked.
He announced his resignation to the CDC back in February, and his last working day was May 3.
Having been based in Atlanta until last November, Butler returned to Anchorage with intentions to engage in health readiness and outbreak response issues concerning public health agencies in Asia and the Arctic.
While he did not disclose his successor’s identity, he expressed confidence in the choice made by the federal agency.
Butler stated, “I love leaving a job when I know the person who is taking it will do a better job than I do.”
Now, he plans to take some time off over the summer before pursuing any new professional opportunities.
He shared his current priorities, saying, “For at least the short foreseeable future, I like to say it’s the three F’s: family, friends, and fish.”
image source from：https://www.adn.com/alaska-news/2025/06/04/alaskas-former-chief-medical-officer-resigns-from-cdc-post-as-federal-agency-faces-turmoil/
