Michael Burgess

Michael C. Burgess
Born	23 12, 1950
Birthplace	Rochester, Minnesota, United States
Nationality	American
Occupation	Physician, politician
Title	Former U.S. Representative
Known for	U.S. Representative for Texas's 26th congressional district (2003–2025)
Education	Doctor of Medicine

Michael Cleveland Burgess (born December 23, 1950) is an American physician and retired politician who served as the U.S. Representative for Texas's 26th congressional district from 2003 to 2025. A member of the Republican Party and a practicing obstetrician-gynecologist prior to his political career, Burgess represented a district in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex area of north Texas for over two decades. Throughout his time in Congress, he was known for his involvement in health care policy, drawing on his medical background to contribute to legislative debates surrounding the Affordable Care Act, Medicare reform, and public health infrastructure. Following his retirement from Congress in January 2025, Burgess emerged as a candidate for federal health agency leadership, with reports in early 2025 identifying him as a likely nominee for the position of director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Early Life

Michael Cleveland Burgess was born on December 23, 1950, in Rochester, Minnesota. Rochester, home to the Mayo Clinic, is a city with deep ties to the medical profession, a connection that would foreshadow Burgess's own career path in medicine. Details regarding his parents and family background during his childhood years are limited in publicly available sources. Burgess grew up during a period of significant change in American health care and eventually pursued a career in medicine, which would later inform his political outlook and legislative priorities.

Burgess relocated to Texas, where he would build both his medical practice and his political career. He settled in the Dallas–Fort Worth metropolitan area, establishing roots in the suburban communities north of Dallas that would eventually form the core of his congressional constituency.

Education

Burgess pursued an extensive education in the sciences and medicine. He earned his undergraduate degree and subsequently obtained a Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) degree, training as an obstetrician-gynecologist. He also earned a master's degree in medical management. His medical education equipped him with clinical expertise that he would later bring to bear on health policy discussions in Congress, distinguishing him as one of the relatively few physicians to serve in the U.S. House of Representatives during his tenure.

Career

Medical Career

Before entering politics, Burgess practiced as an obstetrician-gynecologist in the north Texas area for more than two decades. During his medical career, he delivered thousands of babies and operated a private practice. His firsthand experience with the American health care system—including interactions with insurance companies, hospital administration, and patient care—became central to his political identity and his approach to health policy legislation. Burgess frequently cited his medical background when discussing health care reform on the floor of the House and in committee settings.

Congressional Career

Burgess was first elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2002, winning the Republican primary for Texas's 26th congressional district and subsequently prevailing in the general election. He took office in January 2003 and would go on to represent the district for eleven consecutive terms, serving through January 2025.

The 26th congressional district encompassed portions of the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex, including parts of Denton County and surrounding suburban areas. The district was considered reliably Republican, and Burgess won reelection consistently throughout his tenure.

Health Care Policy

As one of the few medical doctors serving in Congress, Burgess carved out a prominent role in health care policy debates. He served on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, which has jurisdiction over a broad range of health care, energy, and telecommunications issues. Within that committee, he was involved in the Health Subcommittee, where his medical credentials gave him a distinctive voice among legislators.

Burgess was a vocal critic of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), commonly known as "Obamacare," which was signed into law in 2010. He argued that the law represented government overreach into the health care market and advocated for market-based alternatives to expand health insurance coverage. During the debates over ACA repeal and replacement efforts in 2017, Burgess was among the Republican members who pushed for legislative alternatives.

He also engaged in discussions regarding Medicare and Medicaid policy, prescription drug pricing, and medical device regulation. His committee work put him at the center of numerous legislative efforts related to public health preparedness, the opioid epidemic, and the regulation of the Food and Drug Administration.

Energy and Commerce Committee Work

Beyond health care, Burgess's service on the Energy and Commerce Committee involved him in energy policy, environmental regulation, and digital commerce issues. The committee's broad jurisdiction meant that Burgess participated in hearings and legislative markups on topics ranging from telecommunications regulation to consumer protection.

COVID-19 Pandemic Response

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Burgess's medical background again placed him in a visible role within congressional discussions about the federal government's response. He participated in oversight hearings related to the pandemic response, vaccine development and distribution, and the role of federal health agencies including the CDC and the National Institutes of Health.

Later Congressional Years and Retirement

Burgess announced that he would not seek reelection for a twelfth term, and he retired from Congress in January 2025 after serving for twenty-two years. His departure marked the end of one of the longer tenures among physician-legislators in recent congressional history.

Post-Congressional Career: CDC Director Candidacy

Following his retirement from Congress, Burgess was reported to be under consideration for a significant federal health policy role. In March 2025, Fierce Healthcare reported that former Representative Michael Burgess was "likely" the next nominee for the position of director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. According to the report, Burgess was identified as a top choice for the White House's second attempt at filling the CDC director position, following complications with an earlier nomination process. His combination of medical credentials and extensive legislative experience in health care policy was cited as factors making him a leading candidate for the role.

The potential nomination represented a continuation of Burgess's career at the intersection of medicine and public policy. The CDC directorship, one of the most prominent positions in the federal public health infrastructure, would have placed Burgess in charge of the nation's leading public health agency, responsible for disease surveillance, outbreak response, and public health guidance.

Personal Life

Burgess has resided in the Dallas–Fort Worth area of Texas for many years. He and his wife raised their family in the north Texas suburbs that comprised his congressional district. Burgess has spoken publicly about the influence of his medical career on his personal worldview, frequently referencing the experience of delivering babies and caring for patients as formative to his values regarding health care policy.

Throughout his career, Burgess maintained his identity as a physician even while serving in Congress, often emphasizing his medical credentials in policy discussions and public appearances. He was a member of the Republican Doctor Caucus, a group of physicians serving as Republican members of Congress.

Recognition

During his more than two decades of service in the U.S. House of Representatives, Burgess received recognition from various medical and policy organizations for his work on health care legislation. His long tenure on the Energy and Commerce Committee and his role as one of Congress's most prominent physician-legislators gave him a distinctive profile within both the medical and political communities.

His identification as a leading candidate for the CDC directorship in 2025 reflected the esteem in which his combined medical and legislative expertise was held within Republican health policy circles.

Other Notable Individuals Named Michael Burgess

The name Michael Burgess is shared by several other notable individuals across various fields:

Michael Burgess (singer)

Michael Burgess (1945–2015) was a Canadian singer and actor. He was known for his work in musical theatre and concert performance in Canada. Burgess had a career spanning several decades in the Canadian performing arts scene.

Michael Burgess (coroner)

Michael Burgess (born 1946) has served as the Coroner of the Queen's Household since 2002. In this role in the United Kingdom, he has been responsible for inquests involving deaths that occur within royal palaces and other properties associated with the British monarchy.

Michael Burgess (cricketer)

Michael Burgess (born 1994) is an English cricketer who has played domestic cricket in England. He is a wicketkeeper-batsman who has represented county cricket teams in the English domestic cricket system.

Mike Burgess (intelligence chief)

Mike Burgess (born c. 1966) is an Australian intelligence official who has served in senior leadership positions within Australia's intelligence community. He has held prominent roles in Australian national security.

Mike Burgess (Kansas politician)

Mike Burgess (born 1975) is a former Republican member of the Kansas House of Representatives. He served in the Kansas state legislature representing a district in Kansas.

Mike Burgess (footballer)

Mike Burgess (1932–2021) was a Canadian-born English footballer (soccer player) who had a career in English football before his retirement.

Michael E. Burgess (actor)

Michael E. Burgess (born 1960) is an American actor who has worked in the entertainment industry.

Michael C. Burgess (editor)

Michael C. Burgess (born 1956) is a British actor, poet, activist, and former editor of The Star-News.