Former CDC Director Testifies at Senate Hearing

Susan Monales, the former director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), will take center stage at a Senate hearing this Wednesday. Senator Bill Cassidy from Louisiana appears to be attempting to create a rift between Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and former President Donald Trump.

Frustrations are growing regarding Kennedy’s disruptive influence on the federal health department. The hearing will bring to light some of Kennedy’s most vocal critics within the public health arena.

Monales is set to testify alongside Deborah Howey, the previous chief medical officer of the CDC, who stepped down in protest following Monales’ dismissal.

This year has seen a whirlwind for Monales, who was initially approved by Kennedy, confirmed by a Republican-led Senate, and then promptly expelled, according to her own account.

Testimony accessed by Hill reveals that Monales contends she was dismissed for “holding a line on scientific integrity” and rebuffed Kennedy’s pressure to resign.

Wednesday’s hearing is a significant moment for Cassidy, a physician-turned-politician navigating a challenging political landscape in deeply conservative Louisiana.

While Cassidy faced difficulty supporting Kennedy’s confirmation due to his anti-vaccine stance, he ultimately agreed to advance his nomination after receiving specific assurances regarding vaccine policies.

The two-term senator’s political footing has been shaky since he voted to convict Trump during the January 6 trials. Thus far, Trump has maintained a neutral stance about Cassidy’s reelection efforts, but Cassidy’s decision to summon Monales as a witness may complicate matters.

Though Cassidy downplayed his authority as committee chairman, he questioned the necessity of the hearin.

“I’m not the biggest fan of retrospective hearings,” remarked Senator Josh Hawley from Missouri. “I’m not sure how much I’ll gain from this. [Monales] is a political appointee. She serves at the president’s pleasure. My understanding is that when asked to resign, she declined, and then got fired.”

Senator Rand Paul from Kentucky, who previously engaged with Cassidy over vaccine issues, expressed skepticism about Monales’ claims regarding her resignation and suggested they were exaggerated.

“I don’t believe she entered that role with good intentions. She didn’t join to bolster scientific support,” Paul stated. “Honestly, I think it was a good move for her to leave the government, and I’m somewhat relieved she’s gone.”

Until now, Cassidy has been careful in his comments, advocating for oversight without directly challenging Kennedy. In February, he praised Kennedy for endorsing a measles vaccine amidst outbreaks in West Texas. When Kennedy removed all 17 members of the CDC’s vaccine advisory panel, Cassidy acknowledged it on social media, though he refrained from direct criticism.

Cassidy expressed concerns that the new ACIP might be filled with individuals lacking vaccine knowledge.

However, things shifted when Kennedy testified before the Senate Finance Committee about Monales’ termination. Cassidy confronted Kennedy over his skepticism towards vaccines, suggesting that his actions undermined Trump’s significant achievements.

“We’re essentially denying people vaccines,” Cassidy asserted, leading to a tense exchange with Kennedy, who refuted the claim.

This moment marked one of Cassidy’s strongest challenges to Kennedy thus far.

During the hearing, Cassidy even went so far as to advocate for Trump’s nomination for the Nobel Peace Prize for his role in expediting the COVID-19 vaccine development.

This idea re-emerged in a conservative publication, where Cassidy, alongside Senator John Barrasso from Wyoming, praised Operation Warp Speed as a monumental accomplishment for U.S. leadership.

“Operation Warp Speed was not just a medical success; it showcased America’s greatness. It was a reminder of U.S. leadership in the free world,” Cassidy stated. “The Nobel Peace Prize has honored less significant achievements. The next prize should rightfully go to Trump.”

Pointing to Trump again, Cassidy described Wednesday’s hearing with Monales as part of Trump’s mission to inject essential transparency into the CDC.

Last week, Cassidy urged Kennedy to collaborate on promoting a childhood vaccine aimed at whooping cough. In an open letter, he highlighted Trump’s recent endorsement of the vaccine as a way to save lives.

“These are straightforward steps; there’s nothing controversial about them,” Trump remarked in the Oval Office recently.