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Susan Monarez refused to resign as CDC Director despite the White House confirming her ouster.
CDC Director Susan Monarez and US President Donald Trump
Direction of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Susan Monarez refused to step down despite the White House confirming her ouster after less than a month in the role. Susan Monarez’s lawyers said she “has neither resigned nor yet been fired” and accused the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), led by Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., of politicising public health.
“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. For that, she has been targeted. Dr. Monarez has neither resigned nor received notification from the White House that she has been fired, and as a person of integrity and devoted to science, she will not resign,” they said in a statement.
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According to the Washington Post, HHS leaders, including Kennedy, sought Susan Monarez’s agreement to rescind approvals for certain COVID-19 vaccines. When she did not commit, officials told her she must resign or be dismissed.
The White House confirmed her removal, saying, “As her attorney’s statement makes abundantly clear, Susan Monarez is not aligned with the President’s agenda of Making America Healthy Again. Since Susan Monarez refused to resign despite informing HHS leadership of her intent to do so, the White House has terminated [her].”
HHS posted on social media, “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. Secretary Kennedy has full confidence in his team at the CDC.”
Who Is Susan Monarez?
Susan Monarez was confirmed by the Senate in late July as the first CDC director in US history to require Senate approval, following a 2022 law. She was also the first director in seven decades without a medical degree, though she holds a PhD in microbiology and immunology and has held senior roles at the White House, the Department of Homeland Security, and the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health.
- Location :
Washington D.C., United States of America (USA)
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