California is once again stepping into the national spotlight, this time in the realm of public health. Governor Gavin Newsom recently announced the hiring of two former top CDC officials—Dr. Susan Monarez, a former CDC director, and Dr. Debra Houry, the agency’s former chief medical officer—to lead the launch of the Public Health Network Innovation Exchange (PHNIX). Both leaders had to leave the CDC amid Trumpian turmoil—their move to California signals a bold commitment to evidence‑driven health leadership.
PHNIX is designed to modernize California’s public health infrastructure, strengthen disease surveillance, and rebuild or strengthen trust in medical guidance. By bringing in seasoned experts who clashed with federal leadership over vaccine policy and scientific integrity, Newsom is positioning California as a counterweight to politicized “health decisions” and as a hub for innovation in disease control. With Monarez and Houry at the helm, California aims not only to protect its own residents but also to set a national standard for how states can lead in medical health, advice, and rapid response to emerging threats—something the CDC used to do.