# CDC Advances Permanent Leadership Hiring

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says it is nearing completion of a hiring plan and expects to fill nine permanent center-director positions. The plan has been discussed since March 2026, while agency staffing remains substantially below prior levels. For contractors, continuing public-health response activity and workforce gaps may sustain demand for operational and technical support, but the signal identifies no solicitation, award, funding amount, or procurement contact.

- Public-health contractors can evaluate whether their operational and technical support capabilities align with CDC needs amid continued staffing gaps.
- The planned leadership appointments may provide greater organizational stability, but the signal does not identify changes to acquisition priorities or any resulting procurement action.
- Companies should not treat the hiring plan as a confirmed contract opportunity; no specific procurement vehicle, solicitation, or funding is described.

**Jurisdictions:** federal
**Industries:** Healthcare
**Topics:** Emergency Response
**Published:** October 22, 2026

### Government Entities
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)

### Key Quotes
> Folks were saying they want stability. They’ve been through so much instability that there is a need for stability.
> — Erica Schwartz, Director, CDC

### Sources
- [CDC hiring plan and more permanent leadership coming soon, director tells staff - Government Executive](https://www.govexec.com/management/2026/10/cdc-staffing-plan-and-more-permanent-leadership-coming-focus-director-tells-staff/416767) - GovExec.com