CDC Director Susan Monarez is fired!
New York, United States, Aug 27 (EFE).-
United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Susan Monarez, was removed from her position Wednesday, the White House confirmed after a confusing announcement that led to the resignation of senior officials and accusations of politicization in public health.
The Department of Health and Human Services, led by Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., posted on X this afternoon that Monarez “is no longer director” of the CDC, providing no details. The move comes less than a month after she was confirmed for the position by the Senate on Jul. 31.
Following the HHS announcement of Monarez’s departure, at least four senior CDC officials submitted their resignations, with some citing concerns over budget cuts at the agency, vaccine misinformation, and the politicization of public health services under Kennedy’s leadership, CNBC reported.
Monarez’s attorneys, Mark Zaid and Abbe Lowell, posted a message on X clarifying that she had not “resigned, nor has she been fired yet” and was refusing to leave the post, attributing the announcement to political retaliation.
“When CDC Director Susan Monarez refused to sign unscientific, reckless directives and fire devoted health experts, she chose protecting the public over serving a political agenda. For that, she has been attacked,” the lawyers said.
However, hours later, White House deputy Spokesperson Kush Desai told The Washington Post and other media that because Monarez “has refused to resign despite informing HHS leadership of her intent to do so, the White House has terminated her.” He spoke of her disagreement with the Donald Trump administration.
“As the statement from her attorneys makes perfectly clear, Susan Monarez is not aligned with the President’s agenda to ‘Make America Healthy Again,’” Desai added, referencing Kennedy’s motto.
The leadership changes at the CDC have occurred as U.S. regulators approved a new round of Covid-19 vaccines, which will be limited to the “high-risk” population following medical consultation, and as the emergency use authorization for those injections was withdrawn. This marks a shift in U.S. Covid-19 vaccination policy, now more aligned with Kennedy’s skepticism toward vaccines.
In June, Kennedy dismissed all 17 members of the committee that advised the CDC on vaccinations, including for children, claiming the action would restore public trust in vaccines – a move criticized by health experts.
Monarez was the first CDC director chosen after a Senate confirmation process. Trump nominated her after withdrawing the candidacy of former Florida congressman David Weldon over concerns he would not secure enough votes.
The CDC is a high-profile agency that issues vaccine recommendations, works to prevent chronic diseases, and combats infectious disease outbreaks. It played a key role in the response to the COVID-19 pandemic. EFE tr/lds
