CDC director axed by Trump administration refuses to step down

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Longtime authorities scientist Susan Monarez is refusing to depart her place as director of the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention (CDC) after the Division of Well being and Human Companies (HHS) introduced she had been faraway from the position lower than a month after she was sworn in.

Attorneys Mark Zaid and Abbe Lowell mentioned they're representing Monarez and claimed she "has neither resigned nor but been fired."

The attorneys launched an announcement on social media, claiming HHS and Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. are weaponizing public well being for political achieve and placing thousands and thousands of American lives in danger.

"When CDC Director Susan Monarez refused to rubber-stamp unscientific, reckless directives and fireplace devoted well being consultants, she selected defending the general public over serving a political agenda," the assertion mentioned. "For that, she has been focused. Dr. Monarez has neither resigned nor acquired notification from the White Home that she has been fired, and as an individual of integrity and dedicated to science, she is not going to resign."

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Susan Monarez is testifies throughout her June affirmation listening to in entrance of the Senate Committee on Well being, Schooling, Labor, and Pensions within the Dirksen Senate Workplace Constructing June 25, 2025. (Kayla Bartkowski/Getty Photographs)

The Washington Post reported that sources throughout the CDC, who spoke on the situation of anonymity, mentioned HHS leaders, together with Kennedy, sought to get Monarez to decide to rescinding approvals for sure COVID-19 vaccines. When Monarez didn't instantly commit, she was advised by administration officers that she should resign or she could be fired.

Sources additionally claimed she then tried to contain the chairman of the Senate's prime well being committee, Sen. Invoice Cassidy, R-La. The transfer reportedly additional angered Kennedy.

When reached for remark, a spokesperson for the HHS directed Fox Information Digital to the company's response shared on its official X account.

"Susan Monarez is now not director of the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention," HHS mentioned. "We thank her for her devoted service to the American folks. Secretary Kennedy has full confidence in his workforce on the CDC who will proceed to be vigilant in defending People in opposition to infectious illnesses at residence and overseas."

The White Home confirmed to Fox Information Digital that Monarez was being eliminated.

"As her lawyer’s assertion makes abundantly clear, Susan Monarez shouldn't be aligned with the President’s agenda of Making America Wholesome Once more," White Home spokesman Kush Desai mentioned in an announcement. "Since Susan Monarez refused to resign regardless of informing HHS management of her intent to take action, the White Home has terminated Monarez from her place with the CDC."

Monarez was tapped by the Trump administration to guide the CDC after its preliminary nominee, Dave Weldon, withdrew from contention in March amid fears he may not garner sufficient help within the Senate to be confirmed. Shortly after Weldon stepped down, Monarez was formally nominated to be the CDC's everlasting director and was ultimately confirmed within the remaining week of July.

Throughout Monarez's affirmation listening to, she expressed help for vaccines and advised lawmakers she has "not seen a causal hyperlink between vaccines and autism."

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A vial with the COVID-19 coronavirus vaccine in entrance of the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention brand. (Pavlo Conchar/SOPA Photographs/LightRocket by way of Getty Photographs)

Previous to Monarez's Senate confirmation, CDC administrators didn't usually require Senate approval, however that modified in 2022 when Congress handed a legislation making it vital. Monarez was the first-ever Senate-confirmed CDC director within the company's historical past.

Monarez was additionally the primary CDC director with no medical diploma in additional than seven a long time. Nevertheless, she does maintain a Ph.D. in microbiology and immunology.

After getting her doctorate, Monarez entered the federal authorities, the place she discovered herself in roles on the White Home's Workplace of Science and Expertise Coverage, the Nationwide Safety Council, the Department of Homeland Security and the Superior Analysis Initiatives Company for Well being (ARPA-H). Her biography on the CDC's web site says she labored on "main efforts to reinforce the nation's biomedical innovation capabilities, together with combating antimicrobial resistance, increasing the usage of wearables to advertise affected person well being, guaranteeing private well being information privateness, and bettering pandemic preparedness."

President Donald Trump nominated Susan Monarez, proper, to guide the CDC. She was confirmed the final week of July earlier than being ousted this week, lower than a month later. (Getty Photographs; U.S. Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention)

Hours after the information that Monarez would now not head the CDC, sources confirmed to Fox Information Digital that at the least three different prime CDC officers tendered their resignations, together with the CDC's director of its Nationwide Middle for Immunization and Respiratory Illnesses, Demetre Daskalakis; the director of the Nationwide Facilities for Rising and Zoonotic Infectious Illness, Dr. Daniel Jernigan; and the CDC's chief medical officer, Debra Houry.

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Daskalakis posted his prolonged resignation letter on X, citing varied causes for his departure, together with "the views" of Secretary Kennedy and his workers.

Daskalakis mentioned he couldn't proceed to work in an administration that treats the CDC "as a device" to ascertain insurance policies that "don't replicate scientific actuality." He particularly cited current modifications Kennedy's HHS has delivered to vaccine scheduling for kids and adults, arguing it "threaten[s] the lives of the youngest People and pregnant folks."

The previous CDC director additionally cited the administration's efforts to "erase transgender populations, stop important home and worldwide HIV programming, and terminate key analysis."