Another blow to Trump, CDC chief resigns over stock scandal

The director of United States' leading national public health institute, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), has resigned over a conflict of interest charge.

Brenda Fitzgerald, who had been in the eye of storm since the reports of her investments in a tobacco company came out in the public, resigned on Wednesday, according to bloomber.com.

"Dr. Fitzgerald owns certain complex financial interests that have imposed a broad recusal limiting her ability to complete all of her duties as the CDC director," Health and Human Services Secretary Matt Lloyd said in an emailed statement.

CDC Principal Deputy Director Anne Schuchat will lead the institute on an interim basis.

This is another big blow to United States President Donald Trump's administration, especially to Health Department, which last year had to let go off then-health secretary Tom Price after news surfaced that he had traveled in private jets on taxpayer's money.

Though the U.S. laws allow federal employees to trade stocks, they can only do so as long as it does not lead to a case of conflict of interest.