White House Fires CDC Director Susan Monarez
In a bold move, the White House announced the firing of the director of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Susan Monarez, after she defiantly refused to resign on Wednesday.
The decision to remove Monarez from her position at the health agency was made due to her lack of alignment with the president’s agenda, according to a statement released by the White House.
Despite the US health department earlier announcing her departure, Dr. Monarez’s lawyers quickly responded, claiming she had not been informed of her removal and had no intentions of resigning.
Accusing Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr of “weaponising public health,” the lawyers stated that Monarez was being targeted for refusing to comply with “unscientific, reckless directives.”
“Susan Monarez is not aligned with the president’s agenda,” the White House reiterated later on Wednesday, confirming her termination as the CDC director.
Resignations Follow Monarez’s Departure
Following the announcement of Dr. Monarez’s departure, at least three senior CDC leaders resigned from their positions at the agency.
Chief Medical Officer Debra Houry, in a letter seen by the BBC’s US partner CBS News, highlighted concerns over the “rise of misinformation” about vaccines and opposed planned budget cuts.
Daniel Jernigan, who led the National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, and Demetre Daskalakis, head of the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, also cited reasons related to the “weaponising of public health” for their resignations.
Concerns Over CDC’s Approach
Health experts have voiced concerns over the agency’s approach to immunizations under Kennedy’s leadership, given his skepticism towards vaccines.
Amidst this turmoil, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved new Covid vaccines on Wednesday, with restrictions on who can receive them, excluding younger adults and children without underlying health conditions.
Dr. Monarez, the first CDC director in 50 years without a medical degree, focused on infectious disease research during her tenure and provided support to agency employees following a violent attack on the CDC headquarters.
Her departure comes amidst a wave of layoffs at the CDC, including about 600 employees, raising concerns about the agency’s ability to effectively respond to infectious diseases and other health threats.
The situation remains fluid as the CDC navigates through leadership changes and internal challenges, impacting the critical work of the agency in safeguarding public health. — BBC
