With her removal, the agency finds itself without a permanent leader once again<\/p>\n<\/h3>\n
By I. Edwards HealthDay Reporter<\/b>
\n<\/b><\/p>\n
THURSDAY, Aug. 28, 2025 (HealthDay News) \u2014 Susan Monarez is out as director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) \u2014 less than one month after taking the role.<\/p>\n
The White House fired her after she refused to quit amid pressure to change vaccine policy, according to The Washington Post<\/em>.<\/p>\n The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) confirmed her firing in a post<\/a> on the agency’s official X account. She was sworn into the post July 31.<\/p>\n “Susan Monarez<\/a> is no longer director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. We thank her for her dedicated service to the American people,” the post said.<\/p>\n Monarez\u2019s departure dovetails with a period of turmoil for the agency. On Aug. 8, a gunman opened fire at the CDC\u2019s Atlanta campus, shattering windows in six buildings. A police officer was killed.<\/p>\n Following the shooting, Monarez addressed staff in a virtual meeting.<\/p>\n \u201cWe know that misinformation can be dangerous,\u201d she said during the meeting, according to a transcript obtained by NBC News<\/em>. \u201cNot only to health, but to those that trust us and those we want to trust. We need to rebuild the trust together.\u201d<\/p>\n Last week, Monarez canceled a scheduled staff meeting that was intended to focus on workplace safety and new security measures in the wake of the attack.<\/p>\n In an email obtained by NBC News<\/em>, she explained that the meeting was postponed due to an \u201cHHS meeting that I have been asked to attend in person in DC.\u201d<\/p>\n With her removal, the agency finds itself without a permanent leader once again. The CDC is the nation\u2019s leading public health organization.<\/p>\n President Donald Trump<\/a>\u2019s first nominee for CDC director, former Florida congressman Dr. David Weldon<\/a>, was pulled from consideration just hours before his confirmation hearing in March due to concerns about his past statements questioning vaccine safety.<\/p>\n Monarez, who briefly served as acting director, was then nominated to replace him.<\/p>\n More information<\/strong> <\/p>\n Public health policy aims are spelled out at the American Public Health Association<\/a>.<\/p>\n