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The Obama administration made the announcement early Friday morning.

Frieden, 48, has served as the city's top health official for seven years.

In a statement, the president called Frieden an expert in preparedness and response to health emergencies, and a leader in the fight for health care reform.

"I am deeply honored and I feel greatly privileged to have been given the opportunity," said Frieden at a conference Friday.

When asked about the CDC job earlier this week on NY1's "Road to City Hall," Frieden dodged the question from political reporter Rita Nissan.

"Sounds like it would be your dream job based on your knowledge, your experience, your background. Is it something you're interested in?" asked Nissan.

"I love my job. Mayor Bloomberg is a terrific mayor," responded Frieden. "He is the only elected official that I know of who has a public health school named after him. And it's really been his support that has made it possible to have initiatives that have New Yorkers now living longer than ever."

Frieden has been responsible for some of the city's major health initiatives, including the smoking ban, the elimination of trans fats, and the calorie posting requirement for many chain restaurants.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg said he has chosen a replacement for Frieden after conducting a nationwide search, and will announce his selection on Monday.

"I did not want this city, particularly when you have H1N1 on people's minds, to go without a health commissioner," Bloomberg said. "And we did a search nationwide and we found someone who we think will be absolutely wonderful. We think this city will be very well protected. "

"I'm confident that the individual selected will do a terrific job going forward," said Frieden. "I look forward to continuing to learn from the New York City Health Department as I've learned from the phenomenal staff of that department for the past many, many years."

As health commissioner, Frieden made an impact almost immediately, when he and the mayor pushed through a ban on smoking in restaurants and bars in 2003. They followed that up with a ban on artificial trans fats and a requirement that calorie counts be posted on the menus of chain restaurants.

"What he, in collaboration with Mayor Bloomberg, have done here has really set the standard for how to keep all of us healthy," said Dr. Linda Fried of the Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health.

But some New Yorkers have been critical of his work, objecting to government policies that they say try to control people's behavior. Others have simply charged him with taking the fun out of New York City.

"Dr. Frieden definitely has critics. Some people talk about the 'nanny state' or the 'health police,'" said Betsy McCaughey of the Committee To Reduce Infection Deaths.

Frieden is expected to take up his new post next month. He will join his predecessor, former city Health Commissioner Margaret Hamburg, who is head of the Food and Drug Administration and former city Housing Commissioner Shaun Donovan, who now leads HUD.