Chaos Erupts at CDC as Trump Administration Ousts Director Susan Monarez
The US public health system has been thrown into turmoil after the Trump administration moved to oust Susan Monarez, the newly sworn-in CDC Director, less than a month into her tenure. Her legal team insists she has not resigned, arguing she is being “targeted” for her pro-science stance.
Sudden Ousting Without Explanation
On Wednesday evening, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released a brief, unsigned statement announcing Monarez’s removal:
“Susan Monarez is no longer director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. We thank her for her dedicated service to the American people.”
The statement gave no explanation, while Monarez’s lawyers countered that she had “neither resigned nor been officially notified” of her termination by the White House.
Clash With RFK Jr. Over Vaccine Policies
According to reports from the Washington Post and the New York Times, Monarez’s downfall stemmed from a dispute with Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the current US Health Secretary. She reportedly refused to back sweeping changes to vaccine policy, including efforts to strip down Covid-19 protections.
Her attorneys blasted the move:
“When CDC Director Susan Monarez refused to rubber-stamp unscientific, reckless directives and fire dedicated health experts, she chose protecting the public over serving a political agenda. For that, she has been targeted.”
Mass Resignations Follow
The decision sparked a wave of resignations inside the CDC, with three top leaders stepping down in protest.
Dr. Demetre Daskalakis, head of the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, said in his resignation letter:
“I am not able to serve in this role any longer because of the ongoing weaponizing of public health.”
Dr. Deb Houry, the CDC’s Chief Medical Officer, warned:
“For the good of the nation and the world, the science at CDC should never be censored or subject to political pauses.”
Dr. Daniel Jernigan, who led the Center for Emerging Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, also quit.
Vaccine Rollback Sparks Alarm
Just hours before Monarez’s removal, RFK Jr. praised the FDA for revoking emergency use authorization for Pfizer, Moderna, and Novavax Covid-19 vaccines.
These vaccines—once credited with saving 3.2 million American lives—are now authorized only for seniors 65+ or those with serious health conditions. Even then, distribution depends on approval by an advisory panel reshaped with vaccine skeptics.
The Shortest Tenure in CDC History
At 50, Monarez was the 21st CDC Director and the first to be Senate-confirmed after a 2023 law. She was sworn in on July 31, making her the shortest-serving director in the agency’s 79-year history.
Her abrupt exit has left public health experts sounding alarms about the country’s preparedness.
Experts Call It a ‘Total Implosion’
Dr. Craig Spencer, emergency physician and professor at Brown University, blasted the chaos:
“What’s happening at the CDC should frighten every American. It’s an absolute shitshow.”
Dr. Ashish Jha, former White House Covid response coordinator, called it a “total implosion.”
Dr. Jonathan Reiner, cardiologist at George Washington University, warned:
“RFK Jr. is increasingly becoming a liability for the White House.”
A Nation Left Vulnerable
The ousting of Monarez and the mass exodus of CDC leaders has left America’s top health agency in crisis. Critics argue that political interference is now compromising science and endangering lives—right when the nation needs stability the most.