NIAID Acting Director Steps Down Abruptly
The acting director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), a key U.S. research body, has left his post.
The departure of Jeffery Taubenberger, who had served as acting head of the institute since April 2025, was disclosed by Senator Tammy Baldwin during a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing on Thursday.
Key details remain unclear. The exact date and reason for his exit have not been officially confirmed. Reports suggest he stepped down approximately two weeks ago.
STAT has made multiple inquiries to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) regarding his status, which have gone unanswered. Taubenberger has also not responded to queries about his status.
Conflicting official records have emerged. As of Thursday, Taubenberger was still listed as acting director on the NIAID website. However, the HHS employee directory now lists him only as chief of the viral pathogenesis and evolution section.
Background: Taubenberger assumed the acting director role following the departure of the previous director. NIAID is a critical institute within the National Institutes of Health (NIH), responsible for leading research on infectious diseases.