Susan Monarez is no longer director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention after less than a month on the job, according to the Health and Human Services Department.
A terse statement on X by HHS on Wednesday afternoon stated Monarez “is no longer director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. We thank her for her dedicated service to the American people.”
The statement offered no explanation for the abrupt departure, which comes amid a tumultuous month for the agency. It said HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. “has full confidence in his team” at the CDC, “who will continue to be vigilant in protecting Americans against infectious diseases at home and abroad.”
The news of her ouster was first reported by The Washington Post.
But attorneys for Monarez disputed on Wednesday evening that she has either resigned or been terminated, and accused Kennedy and HHS of “weaponizing public health for political gain.”
“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,” Mark S. Zaid and Abbe David Lowell said on X.
Monarez, an infectious disease researcher, was confirmed by the Senate 51-47, along party lines, last month.
She has extensive experience working within the federal government, previously serving as deputy director for the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health.
Only a few weeks into her tenure, a gunman shot hundreds of rounds into the CDC headquarters in Atlanta. A law enforcement officer, David Rose, died.
In a note to staff, Monarez blamed health misinformation for the shooting. The gunman opposed COVID-19 vaccines, according to law enforcement.
A letter addressed to Kennedy by CDC employees on Aug. 20 demanded he do more to protect the HHS workforce.
During Monarez’s brief stint, Kennedy made controversial changes to the CDC and vaccine policy.
Earlier this week, vaccine skeptic Retsef Levi was appointed to lead a COVID-19 immunization work group that provides advice and information to the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices.
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