The White House has officially confirmed that President Donald Trump has fired Susan Monarez, the recently appointed director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The move comes amid a clash between Monarez and HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., with the president citing her refusal to follow orders as the reason for her dismissal.
Monarez, who had been confirmed by the Senate just weeks earlier, allegedly pushed back against directives from Kennedy regarding the rollback of COVID vaccine approvals, claiming that such actions would “put millions of American lives at risk.”
Legal Pushback and Conflicting Accounts
After initially agreeing to resign at Kennedy’s request, Monarez reportedly reversed her decision and instructed her lawyers to challenge her firing.
Her attorneys, Mark S. Zaid and Abbe David Lowell, released a statement saying Monarez “refused to rubber-stamp unscientific, reckless directives and fire dedicated health experts” and declined to resign voluntarily.
Despite this, White House spokesperson Leavitt maintained that the firing was lawful and necessary.
“Her lawyer’s statement made it abundantly clear that she was not aligned with the president’s mission to make America healthy again,” Leavitt said.
“The president fired her, which he had every right to do.”
Leavitt added that public officials are expected to execute the president’s agenda if they wish to remain in their positions.
“Just do your job, that’s what the president wants to see,” he stated.
Mass Exodus at the CDC
Monarez’s departure appears to have triggered a wave of resignations at the agency.
Reportedly, other senior CDC officials, including Dan Jernigan of the National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Deb Houry, chief medical officer, and Demetre Daskalakis of the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, have also stepped down.
Observers note that this latest upheaval follows a pattern of turnover among public health officials since Trump took office.
Tensions were visible inside CDC headquarters, with a poster reading “F**K RFK” spotted in a window, prompting a leadership memo promising disciplinary action for the “act of vandalism.”
Departmental Restructuring and Budget Cuts
Monarez was appointed to replace Trump’s first choice, former Republican congressman Dave Weldon, who faced criticism for his views on vaccines and autism.
Her exit coincides with a major restructuring of the Department of Health and Human Services, in which at least 600 CDC employees received permanent termination notices.
HHS also recently announced cuts of roughly half a billion dollars in funding for mRNA vaccine development programs, heightening concerns among public health experts about the direction of the agency under Kennedy’s leadership.
Shadow of Violence and Public Criticism
Monarez’s resignation comes just weeks after a gunman attacked the CDC headquarters in Atlanta, claiming the COVID-19 vaccine had made him sick.
The shooting killed one police officer, David Rose, and the shooter, while several buildings sustained gunfire damage and nearby Emory University students were forced to shelter in place.
Kennedy faced criticism for not condemning the attack until eighteen hours later.
HHS Communications Director Andrew Nixon defended the department, insisting that the focus should remain on supporting public health workers rather than politicizing the tragedy.
“This is a time to stand in solidarity with our public health workforce, not a moment for the media to exploit a tragedy for political gain,” Nixon told the Daily Mail.
The Road Ahead for the CDC
As the dust settles, questions remain about the future of the CDC under Kennedy’s leadership.
Monarez’s abrupt firing and the resulting resignations have sparked concern among public health experts and lawmakers alike, with many watching closely to see how the agency will navigate leadership changes, budget cuts, and public trust challenges moving forward.
