The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is operating with significant leadership gaps, with 80% of its top director positions remaining vacant 14 months after Robert F. Kennedy Jr. assumed his role as health secretary.

The vacancies affect key areas of the agency's work, including positions responsible for coordinating efforts to combat infectious diseases, heart conditions, and cancer screening programs. No permanent leaders are currently in place to oversee these critical public health functions.

Current and former CDC officials have expressed concerns about the agency's operational capacity during this period of leadership shortage. The officials describe the work environment as being at a standstill with declining morale among staff.

The CDC serves as the nation's primary public health agency, responsible for protecting Americans from health threats and coordinating responses to disease outbreaks. The agency's leadership structure typically includes directors overseeing various specialized centers and programs.

The leadership vacuum comes at a time when the agency continues to face ongoing public health challenges and the need to maintain readiness for potential health emergencies. The absence of permanent leadership in key positions raises questions about the agency's ability to effectively carry out its mission of protecting public health.