White House: "Did Not Follow President's Policy"
Secretary Also Pressured for Dismissal of Senior Aides
The Director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) was dismissed less than a month after taking office, following a conflict with the Secretary of Health and Human Services, who questioned the efficacy of vaccines.
According to the Washington Post (WP), the Associated Press, and others on August 27 (local time), the White House announced the dismissal of CDC Director Susan Monarez that day.
Kush Desai, Deputy White House Press Secretary, stated that Director Monarez was dismissed because she did not align with President Donald Trump's policy agenda and refused to resign. He added, "She does not fit with President Trump's 'Making America Healthy Again' agenda." The CDC Director is responsible for overseeing disease response.
WP: "Dismissed for Resisting Pressure to Change Vaccine Policy"
WP reported that Director Monarez was dismissed for resisting upper-level pressure to change vaccine policy.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the Secretary of Health and Human Services, who is well-known as a 'vaccine conspiracy theorist,' has long criticized the CDC for being too compliant with the pharmaceutical industry and vaccine manufacturers. In response, Secretary Kennedy reversed existing vaccine policies by cutting research funding for vaccines, dissolving the vaccine advisory committee, and limiting approval of new COVID-19 vaccines to only 'high-risk groups.'
WP also reported that Secretary Kennedy pressured Director Monarez to dismiss senior aides within the week. This week, in addition to Director Monarez, four other senior CDC officials resigned.
Shortest Tenure Among Directors
Director Monarez's side claimed that the Trump administration forced unscientific policies.
In a statement, Director Monarez's attorney said, "Director Monarez did not simply rubber-stamp unscientific and reckless directives and refused orders such as firing dedicated public health professionals," adding, "She became a target because she chose to protect the public rather than follow a political agenda."
The statement continued, "This is not just about one official, but about the systematic dismantling of the public health system, the silencing of experts, and the dangerous politicization of science."
Director Monarez took office on July 31 and served the shortest tenure among all previous directors.
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