The White House announced on Wednesday the dismissal of Susan Monarez, Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), after she refused to resign from her post.
In an official statement, the administration said Monarez was removed because she was “not aligned with the president’s agenda.”
Monarez’s Removal and Legal Response
Shortly before the White House announcement, the Department of Health and Human Services reported Monarez’s departure, sparking pushback from her legal team.
Her attorneys said she had not been informed of the firing and had “no intention of resigning.” They also accused Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. of “weaponizing public health” by forcing out experienced experts and pushing for irresponsible decisions.
A Series of High-Profile Resignations
Monarez’s dismissal triggered an immediate wave of resignations among senior CDC officials:
- Debra Houry, Chief Medical Officer, resigned in protest, warning of a “rise in vaccine misinformation” and criticizing upcoming budget cuts.
- Daniel Jernigan, Director of Infectious and Zoonotic Diseases, stepped down, citing the “current climate in the department.”
- Demetre Daskalakis, head of the Immunization and Respiratory Diseases Center, said he could not continue due to the “politicization of public health.”
- Jennifer Layden, Director of the Office of Public Health Data and Technology, also resigned, U.S. media reported.
Political and Public Health Context
Monarez, a longtime federal scientist without a medical degree, was the first non-physician to lead the CDC in 50 years. She had been nominated by former President Donald Trump and confirmed by Senate Republicans in July.
Her dismissal comes as vaccine policy faces increasing politicization under Secretary Kennedy, a well-known vaccine skeptic.
On the same day, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved new Covid-19 vaccines, but limited their use to the elderly and people with underlying conditions, excluding healthy young adults and children.
Impact on CDC and Public Health
The leadership crisis at the CDC follows reports that around 600 employees were recently laid off, including experts on avian flu, environmental risks, and public health data.
Monarez, who had supported staff after a deadly armed attack at CDC headquarters in Atlanta, is leaving her post amid growing fears that U.S. public health institutions are entering a period of deep political instability.
