CDC Director Gets Pay Cut After Nearly Doubling Predecessor’s Salary

FILE - This undated photo provided by the University of Maryland School of Medicine in March 2018 shows Dr. Robert Redfield Jr. The government is paying Redfield $375,000 a year to run the Atlanta-based CDC, U.S. officials confirmed in April 2018. (Tracey Brown/University of Maryland School of Medicine via AP)
FILE - This undated file photo provided by the University of Maryland School of Medicine in March 2018 shows Dr. Robert Redfield Jr. The government is paying Redfield $375,000 a year to run the Atlanta-based CDC, U.S... FILE - This undated file photo provided by the University of Maryland School of Medicine in March 2018 shows Dr. Robert Redfield Jr. The government is paying Redfield $375,000 a year to run the Atlanta-based CDC, U.S. officials confirmed in April 2018, nearly twice what his predecessor made and far more than other recent past directors. On Monday, April 30, 2018, HHS officials said Redfield had asked for a pay reduction because the topic had become a distraction.(Tracey Brown/University of Maryland School of Medicine via AP, File) MORE LESS

NEW YORK (AP) — The new head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has gotten a big salary reduction.

A spokeswoman for the Department of Health and Human Services said Tuesday that Dr. Robert Redfield Jr.’s new salary will be $209,700, down from $375,000.

The previous figure was at least $150,000 more than any previous CDC director had received.

Last month, after The Associated Press reported that Redfield was making almost twice his predecessor, a U.S. senator opposed to his appointment wrote a letter to Azar asking why he was earning so much. HHS officials then said Redfield had asked for a pay reduction because the topic had become a distraction.

Redfield was a top HIV researcher who previously had no experience working in public health or managing a public health agency.

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  1. Avatar for jtl jtl says:

    Neither this story or the AP article really explains how this salary got set in the first place - isn’t that the big question? Who approves these things? It’s not like this guy set his own salary.

  2. M ake
    A ppointments
    G olden
    A gain

    A reduction isn’t keeping with the theme here … Oh No’s ! —

  3. HHS officials then said Redfield had asked for a pay reduction because the topic had become a distraction.

    In other words, he’d been caught.

  4. You read my mind…

  5. Dear CDC
    I offer to take the job at half of $209,700.
    I have just as much experience, plus excellent management and communication skills.
    I will also not require the use of a security detail except when visiting the White House.
    I hope you consider this opportunity to save tax payer dollars and want to thank you for considering me as a candidate for this position.
    Sincerely,
    R. Hortense Corvidae

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