The White House says it has fired the director of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Susan Monarez, after she refused to resign on Wednesday. In a statement, it said she was 'not aligned with the president's agenda' and she had been removed from her position at the health agency. The US health department earlier announced her departure, which prompted a statement from Dr Monarez's lawyers who said she had not been told of her removal and she would not resign. They said she was being targeted for refusing 'to rubber-stamp unscientific, reckless directives and fire dedicated health experts' and accused Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. of 'weaponising public health.' Almost immediately after Dr Monarez's departure was first announced by the health department, at least three senior CDC leaders resigned from the agency. Among them was Chief Medical Officer Debra Houry, who warned about the 'rise of misinformation' about vaccines in a letter seen by the BBC's US partner CBS News. She also argued against planned cuts to the agency's budget. This rapid turnover at one of the nation's key health agencies comes at a moment when the CDC is grappling with public trust and the ongoing fallout from COVID-19 policies.
CDC Director Fired Amidst Resignations at the White House
CDC Director Fired Amidst Resignations at the White House
In a dramatic shift in health leadership, Dr. Susan Monarez was fired from her role as the CDC director for refusing to align with the President's directives, leading to a wave of resignations among other officials.
On Wednesday, the White House announced the firing of CDC director Dr. Susan Monarez after she resisted pressure to conform to policies she deemed 'unscientific.' Following her dismissal, key officials including Chief Medical Officer Debra Houry resigned, raising concerns about public health leadership under Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., known for his vaccine skepticism. The situation highlights a growing conflict within the CDC over responses to misinformation and policy direction amidst ongoing public health challenges.
