Dr. Ralph Abraham was named CDC deputy administrator on Nov. 25, 2025. Abraham is Louisiana's first surgeon general, appointed in 2024. He publicly praised RFK Jr.'s vaccine skepticism before Kennedy became HHS Secretary. Abraham served as Republican congressman from Louisiana (2015-2021) and campaigned with Trump in 2019.

Abraham's appointment follows CDC's Nov. 19 website change promoting debunked vaccine-autism links. His medical background is emergency medicine. Public statements show he questioned COVID-19 vaccine safety and efficacy. The appointment places a vaccine skeptic in CDC's second-highest position under RFK Jr., who personally ordered the autism website changes.

As congressman, Abraham voted against the Affordable Care Act and co-sponsored bills to defund Planned Parenthood. He opposed mask mandates during the pandemic. Abraham left Congress in 2021 and worked in private medical practice before Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry appointed him surgeon general in 2024.