LDL. Newsom Taps Former CDC Leaders to Help Launch California’s New Public Health Network, PHNIX
California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Monday that two high-profile public health leaders who recently departed the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will join a new California-led initiative aimed at strengthening “science-driven decision-making” and modernizing public health infrastructure. Governor of California+1
The initiative is called the Public Health Network Innovation Exchange (PHNIX), and Newsom’s office says it is designed to serve as a hub for public health innovation, collaboration, and communication at the state, national, and global level—particularly as California positions itself as a counterweight to shifting federal health policy. Governor of California+1
Who Newsom appointed
Newsom’s announcement includes two names that have become central in recent national debates over vaccine policy and the direction of federal public health agencies:
- Dr. Susan Monarez, former CDC director, has been tapped to help lead PHNIX—particularly on health technology and modernization efforts. Governor of California+2AP News+2
- Dr. Debra Houry, the former CDC chief medical officer, will serve as a senior adviser focused on regional and global public health issues. Governor of California+1
According to reporting, Monarez’s tenure at the top of the CDC ended abruptly after disputes over vaccine policy and agency direction, and Houry stepped down afterward, following more than a decade at the agency. The Guardian+1
Why they left the CDC
Multiple reports describe the departures as tied to disagreements and upheaval at the federal level, including tension over vaccine guidance and changes to the broader public health system. The Guardian+1
Monarez and Houry later appeared before Congress to raise concerns about the direction of U.S. public health policy and what they viewed as risks to scientific independence. The Guardian+1
What PHNIX is meant to do
PHNIX is being framed as an innovation and coordination platform—one that can support more modern, trusted public health systems and stabilize communication around scientific data. Newsom’s office describes it as a way to strengthen infrastructure and maintain confidence in evidence-based decision-making. Governor of California+1
Reporting also notes California has been exploring efforts with other states to develop independent guidance and coordination in response to federal shifts. AP News+1
While detailed program operations are still emerging, PHNIX is broadly being presented as:
- a technology and data modernization push
- a collaboration and communications hub
- an effort to reinforce trust in science-based public health information Governor of California+1
The political context
Newsom has increasingly cast California as a national counterweight on public health policy—particularly amid disputes and controversy surrounding federal health leadership. In announcing the hires, he described the move as a substantive response to what California views as gaps in federal action. AP News+1
Not everyone sees it as purely technocratic. Some critics argue it’s political theater, while supporters view it as a necessary hedge against instability in national guidance. AP News
What happens next
The appointments immediately raise the profile of PHNIX and put California’s next steps under a national spotlight. Supporters say bringing in experienced CDC leaders could help build stronger systems for future health emergencies and improve public trust. Critics will likely scrutinize how PHNIX is funded, what authority it holds, and whether it becomes a template for other states.
For now, the message from Sacramento is clear: California is investing in a parallel lane of public health leadership—and it’s doing so by recruiting senior figures who recently challenged federal direction from inside the CDC
