Trump Administration Ousts CDC Director Susan Monarez Amid Chaos

The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is facing significant turmoil following the dismissal of its newly appointed director, Susan Monarez. Just weeks after being sworn in on July 31, 2025, Monarez was ousted by the Trump administration. Her legal team asserts that she did not resign and is being unjustly targeted for her commitment to scientific integrity.

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced Monarez’s removal on Wednesday evening, providing no official explanation. HHS stated, “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.” This statement was posted on social media, but it did not clarify the circumstances surrounding her departure.

Reports indicate that Monarez’s refusal to endorse significant changes to U.S. vaccine policies may have put her at odds with Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the Secretary of Health. According to the Washington Post and the New York Times, her removal followed her decision to reject unscientific directives that could compromise public health.

In a statement to the Associated Press, her attorneys, Mark Zaid and Abbe David Lowell, emphasized that she had neither resigned nor received termination notice. They expressed concern over what they described as the politicization of public health, stating, “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.”

Compounding the confusion, White House Deputy Press Secretary Kush Desai confirmed Monarez’s termination, stating, “Since Susan Monarez refused to resign despite informing HHS leadership of her intent to do so, the White House has terminated Monarez from her position with the CDC.” However, it is important to note that only the President has the authority to fire a Senate-confirmed official, raising questions about the legitimacy of this statement, which did not specifically mention Donald Trump.

The fallout from Monarez’s ousting has triggered a wave of resignations within the CDC. At least three other senior officials have exited the agency, with one of the most notable departures being Dr. Demetre Daskalakis, who stepped down as the director of the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases. In his resignation letter, Daskalakis lamented the ongoing “weaponizing of public health,” urging his colleagues to prioritize their well-being in light of the agency’s current climate.

Concerns about the state of the CDC were echoed by another departing leader, Dr. Deb Houry, the chief medical officer, who asserted that “for the good of the nation and the world, the science at CDC should never be censored or subject to political pauses or interpretations.” Similarly, Daniel Jernigan, who led the Center for Emerging Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, has also left the agency.

The chaos at the CDC follows a controversial decision by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which revoked the emergency use authorization for COVID-19 vaccines produced by Pfizer, Moderna, and Novavax. These vaccines are estimated to have saved approximately 3.2 million lives in the United States. The FDA now restricts their use to individuals aged 65 and older or younger individuals with underlying health conditions that heighten their risk of severe disease.

As the CDC grapples with the implications of Monarez’s removal, public health experts have voiced alarm. Dr. Craig Spencer, an emergency medicine physician and professor at Brown University School of Public Health, expressed his concerns on social media, stating, “What’s happening at the CDC should frighten every American… It’s unclear whether the CDC director – confirmed just weeks ago – has been fired or not. Absolute chaos.”

The turmoil has led to criticisms of Secretary Kennedy, with Dr. Jonathan Reiner, a cardiologist and professor at George Washington University, noting that Kennedy is “increasingly becoming a liability for the White House.” Dr. Ashish Jha, the Biden administration’s coronavirus response coordinator, described the situation as a “total implosion” resulting from Kennedy’s leadership.

As the CDC navigates this unprecedented upheaval, the implications for public health policy in the United States remain uncertain. The agency’s future direction, particularly regarding critical vaccine policies, is now in question, leaving many to wonder about the potential impact on national health initiatives.