- Fitzgerald's Resignation Comes as CDC Faces Huge Funding Cuts Modern Healthcare by Steven Ross Johnson — Dr. Brenda Fitzgerald's resignation as head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) comes at a precarious time for the agency. It's trying to address a flu epidemic while bracing for possible deep cuts to its funding.…T'he Trump administration suggested cutting the agency's annual budget by more than $1.2 billion. The president's next draft budget is due Feb. 5.