Concerns have been raised by two prominent Republican senators regarding the firing of Susan Monares from her role as director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.), who chairs the Senate’s Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, has been a vocal critic. He has called for the Advisory Committee on Vaccination Practices (ACIP) to delay its meeting scheduled for September 18 due to recent staff changes at the CDC.
“With the upcoming ACIP meeting, there are serious allegations regarding its agenda, committee membership, and the absence of scientific rigor,” Cassidy remarked in a statement.
Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) also voiced her concerns about Monares’ termination, echoing Cassidy’s stance that Congress should oversee such decisions, especially given the timing—Monares was let go just weeks after Senate confirmation.
“Susan Monares possesses substantial expertise and has greatly contributed to the agency. I understand that the CDC director serves at the pleasure of the president, but to fire her so soon after her confirmation raises questions,” Collins stated.
She mentioned having spoken with Monares about her dismissal and expressed alignment with Cassidy’s views.
Cassidy highlighted that decisions made by the committee could significantly influence children’s health, urging that the meetings should be postponed until proper oversight is established.
“If these meetings take place now, their recommendations can’t be trusted given the current situation at the CDC,” he emphasized.
However, there’s uncertainty regarding how strongly Cassidy, Collins, or other GOP senators will oppose this firing.
Most GOP senators have been reluctant to criticize President Trump or his more contentious cabinet decisions, knowing such actions could lead to repercussions from Trump’s supporters among lawmakers.
Both Cassidy and Collins are up for reelection in 2026, prompting observers to suggest Cassidy will tread carefully given he’s facing a conservative primary challenge from John Fleming.
Cassidy, having been one of the few GOP senators to vote for Trump’s conviction during the Senate trial over inciting a riot, finds himself in a delicate position.
Collins also voted for Trump’s conviction and is contending in a state that chose Kamala Harris in the 2024 election.
Following Monares’ dismissal, four senior CDC officials announced their resignations, including Dr. Debra Houry, the chief medical officer, and Demetre Daskarakis, who was responsible for the agency’s respiratory disease and vaccination efforts.
Republican strategists warned that this situation could raise alarms about Kennedy’s attempt to mold policy according to political narratives rather than scientific facts.
A Republican strategist, who requested anonymity, expressed that reforms aimed at reshaping the agency’s mission have been disastrous.
“This situation is crucial for the CDC, the nation, and Kennedy’s reliability,” the strategist asserted. “He seems intent on using ideology to dictate decisions about public health, which is quite concerning.”
Tom Frieden, who led the CDC from 2009 to 2017, criticized Kennedy’s approach as a harmful assault on science and sound health policies.
“We’ve never witnessed a CDC director being removed quite like this. It appears as if they’re moving away from glaringly obvious science,” Frieden commented.
He remarked that this could lead to ideology influencing life-or-death decisions regarding children, a troubling development indeed.
Simultaneously, a GOP strategist who spoke with the news outlet suggested that while resistance may be limited, Republicans might convene hearings that could put Kennedy in a difficult spot to defend his actions.
This could involve public hearings where Kennedy would have to present his rationale and face scrutiny.
Kennedy, speaking on Fox News, asserted that the CDC leadership must align with Trump’s agenda, expressing concerns about misinformation during the COVID-19 pandemic.
In response to Monares’ firing, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt defended the decision, asserting that the president would quickly nominate a successor.
She underscored that Trump was overwhelmingly reelected and, as such, has the authority to terminate individuals not aligned with his mission.
On Thursday evening, the administration announced that Deputy Health and Human Services Secretary Jim O’Neill would serve as the acting CDC director.
Daskarakis criticized the political leadership within the Department of Health and Human Services, claiming it has turned the CDC into a tool for advancing policies that lack scientific foundation.
Numerous former health officials have also criticized Kennedy’s decision to dismiss the entire ACIP and replace them with individuals aligned with his views.
In a resignation letter shared on social media, Daskarakis warned that this new panel could lead to dangerous recommendations due to political pressures.
