The Trump administration said Wednesday that it had fired Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Susan Monarez because she was “not aligned” with the president’s agenda of “Making America Healthy Again.”
Lawyers for Monarez, who has directed the CDC for less than a month, stated that she would not leave, claiming she had not been adequately informed of her removal. Monarez also alleged that she was being “targeted” for refusing to follow a “political agenda.”
The Department of Health and Human Services announced on Wednesday afternoon that Monarez was no longer part of the agency.
“Susan Monarez is no longer director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,” HHS posted on X. “We thank her for her dedicated service to the American people. [Secretary Kennedy] 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 removal came after Monarez did not commit to rescinding approvals for certain COVID vaccines when pressed by HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., The Washington Post reported. The outlet added that Monarez turned to Senator Bill Cassidy (R-LA), the chair of the Senate Committee on Health, Labor, and Pensions, for help while facing pressure from Kennedy.
Cassidy said on X that Monarez’s “high profile departure” will require “oversight” from his committee.
In response to the announcement from HHS, lawyer Mark Zaid said that Monarez had no intention of leaving the position.
“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,” Zaid said. “For that, she has been targeted. Dr. Monarez has neither resigned nor received notification from the White House that she has been fired, and as a person of integrity and devoted to science, she will not resign.”
Monarez is also represented by Abbe Lowell, who represents Federal Reserve governor Lisa Cook. Trump recently fired Cook, who is likewise refusing to leave her position.
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White House spokesman Kush Desai responded to the accusations, saying Monarez had been “terminated” because she was “not aligned with the President’s agenda of Making America Healthy Again.”
Zaid said the White House had provided a “legally deficient” notification of Monarez’s removal from the CDC.
“Our client was notified tonight by White House staff in the personnel office that she was fired. As a presidential appointee, senate confirmed (sic) officer, only the president himself can fire her,” he posted on X.
Monarez was confirmed by the Senate 51-47 on July 29.
At least three other top CDC staffers have resigned in protest following the Trump administration’s move to oust Monarez. Those departing include Demetre Daskalakis, Director of the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases; Dr. Daniel Jernigan, Director of the National Centers for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases; and Debra Houry, the agency’s chief medical officer.
The FDA rolled out new guidelines for the COVID vaccine on Wednesday, approving its use for those 65 and older and limiting approval for those between the ages of 5 and 64.
