Robert Redfield, MD, newly appointed director of the CDC, agreed to a new annual salary of $209,700 after facing public criticism over his original $375,000 salary, according to The Hill.
Brenda Fitzgerald, MD, Dr. Redfield's predecessor at the CDC, earned $197,000 annually, which led Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., to openly question the new director's significantly higher salary. HHS officials said Dr. Redfield was hired under title 42, which allows the federal government to attract top-tier scientists with higher-than-usual salaries.
Dr. Redfield requested the pay cut April 30 to avoid public distraction.