The Trump administration has picked Deputy Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Jim O'Neill to serve as acting director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a day after it fired current director Susan Monarez, officials told The Hill.

Monarez is contesting her firing, though the White House has confirmed her ouster following a statement on Wednesday from HHS.

O'Neill is a Silicon Valley investor and former CEO of the Thiel Foundation, funded by Trump donor Peter Thiel. He previously served as principal associate deputy secretary at HHS during the George W. Bush administration.

He was sworn in as deputy secretary in June.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Thursday that HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. would announce a replacement for Monarez "

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