Susan Monares was reportedly removed from her position as CDC director on Wednesday, only a few weeks after taking office. She stated that she hadn’t been fired or resigned just hours later.
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced via a statement that Monares was no longer leading the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
According to the statement, “When CDC Director Susan Monares resisted scientifically reckless directives, she chose to prioritize public welfare over political agendas, making her a target.” It continued, “Dr. Monares neither resigned nor received any indication from the White House regarding her termination, and as a dedicated, science-oriented individual, she won’t resign.”
As reported by the New York Times, HHS Director Robert F. Kennedy Jr. confronted Monares on Monday regarding vaccine policies, suggesting she would need to resign or be dismissed.
Instead, Monares reached out to Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.), the Senate Health Committee chair, which reportedly angered Kennedy.
A source informed Oka that Monares had indeed been removed from her role. She was confirmed by the Senate on July 29 after being nominated by President Trump.
Monares was the first CDC director to require Senate confirmation amidst an increasingly politicized environment during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Initially reported by the Washington Post, news of her ousting surfaced, leading to the resignation of four CDC officials who cited the politicization of health agencies.
“CDC science must never face censorship or politicization for the benefit of the nation and the world. Vaccines are a fundamental, well-established scientific fact that saves lives,” they stated.
They added that the misinformation surrounding vaccines and the exaggeration of risks could cost lives, particularly referencing recent events of measles outbreaks.
Before becoming the CDC head, Monares briefly served as the acting director after the Trump administration’s second term commenced. She also held the position of deputy director at the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health.
President Trump initially considered David Weldon (R), a former Florida lawmaker, for the role before settling on Monares.
Monares’ nomination faced delays and was confirmed months after Trump’s initial announcement.
She had gained recognition from colleagues who described her as a “data-driven, nonpartisan leader” capable of fostering public-private partnerships. However, during her time at the CDC, it was noted that she did not push back against White House orders to remove references to “LGBTQ” and “transgender” from CDC materials, nor did she fight to restore any deleted information.
One colleague speculated that Monares wasn’t aiming to dismantle the CDC but attempting to safeguard its existing data from a wider attack.
Brett Giroir, former Health and FDA director, suggested Monares was selected for her capability to provide objective assessments grounded in data for potential policy changes.
During her Senate confirmation hearing, Monares distanced herself from some views held by Kennedy. She expressed her belief that “vaccines save lives” and dismissed any causal links between vaccinations and autism—a claim often promoted by Kennedy. She tentatively approved the use of fluorinated water in Maryland when challenged by Democrats, despite previous discussions suggesting the administration’s intention to remove certain protective minerals.
When pressed further, Monares stated, “If confirmed as CDC Director, I look forward to supporting the secretary with science and evidence to guide crucial decisions.”
Updated at 7:55pm
