CDC Director Ousted After Less Than a Month on the Job
Susan Monarez has been fired from her role as director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention after serving in the position for less than a month, which would make her the shortest-tenured director in the agency’s 79-year history. She is reportedly refusing to leave her role, though.
Neither the agency nor Monarez have provided an official reason for her departure. The Department of Health and Human Services did, however, confirm her exit via a post on X on Wednesday afternoon.
“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. @SecKennedy has full confidence in his team at @CDCgov who will continue to be vigilant in protecting Americans against infectious diseases at home and abroad,” the post read.
Monarez’s brief tenure occurred during a period of upheaval at the CDC.
She was sworn in on July 31, and on August 8, a gunman opened fire at the CDC’s Atlanta campus, firing more than 180 rounds and killing a police officer.
The gunman, Patrick Joseph White, reportedly blamed his Covid-19 vaccination for his depression and suicidal thoughts. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation described the shooting as a targeted attack on the CDC tied to his grievances over vaccines.
The tragic incident came during a time when the agency was already grappling with widespread layoffs, key leadership departures and escalating tension over vaccine policy changes spearheaded by HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
This summer, Kennedy dismantled the CDC’s long-standing advisory committee on immunization, which has historically consisted of independent scientists and physicians who set evidence-based vaccine guidelines. In their place, he appointed members with a history of questioning or opposing mainstream vaccine recommendations, including some affiliated with anti-vaccine advocacy groups like the Children’s Health Defense and the Informed Consent Action Network.
Monarez’s exit stemmed from conflicts with Kennedy over the direction of future vaccine policy, administration officials familiar with the matter told The Washington Post this week.
These sources said that Monarez was pressured by Kennedy and other officials to support rescinding certain Covid-19 vaccine approvals, and she refused to commit to these changes without consulting her advisors.
This created friction, and she enlisted Senator Bill Cassidy (R-Louisiana) — who cast a key vote for Kennedy’s confirmation after Kennedy provided assurance he would uphold established vaccine safety mechanisms — to mediate. This further angered Kennedy, and Monarez was given the option to either step down or be fired, the officials told the Post.
Before working in the CDC, Monarez was the deputy director of Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H). She has about 20 years of experience working for government agencies — in addition to the CDC and ARPA-H, she has held roles at the Department of Homeland Security and the White House’s Office of Science and Technology Policy.
Most of Monarez’ experience working for the federal government has focused on strengthening the nation’s preparedness and response to biological, chemical and other health-related threats.
Photo: The Washington Post, Getty Images
Editor’s note: This article was updated on the morning of August 28 to include the information that Monarez is reportedly refusing to vacate her position.
