Susan Monarez was fired as director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on August 27, 2025, just four weeks after her Senate confirmation on July 29, 2025.
Appointed by President Trump, Monarez faced immediate challenges due to conflicts with Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s controversial health policies. Her dismissal stemmed from her refusal to comply with what her lawyers described as “unscientific, reckless directives” and to fire dedicated health experts. Monarez’s legal team, Mark Zaid and Abbe Lowell, stated she was targeted for prioritizing public health over political agendas. They emphasized that she neither resigned nor was formally notified of her termination, highlighting her resistance to pressure from the Trump administration.
The White House, via spokesman Kush Desai, justified her firing, claiming Monarez was not aligned with the President’s “Make America Healthy Again” agenda. Monarez’s lawyers warned that her ousting signals a broader “systematic dismantling of public health institutions” and the politicization of science. Her brief tenure was marked by a tumultuous environment, including a recent shooting at the CDC’s Atlanta campus and significant staff resignations. The departure of Monarez and four top CDC officials, including Dr. Debra Houry and Dr. Demetre Daskalakis, was linked to disagreements over vaccine policy changes.
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