The U.S. Dept. of Health & Human Services said Susan Monarez will no longer be the director of the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) after less than one month on the job. However, a lawyer who claims to represent Monarez said she’s not left the role despite the government’s statement.
Conflicting statements
Monarez was confirmed to the role in the Senate at the end of July. She’s an infectious disease researcher and became the first non-physician to lead the agency in 50 years.
Reports of her departure said it came after she objected to certain changes made by HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to the CDC’s vaccine advisory panel.
The Washington Post reports Monarez faced pressure to change vaccine policy and that several senior CDC officials also announced their resignations.
“@SecKennedy has full confidence in his team at @CDCgov who will continue to be vigilant in protecting Americans against infectious diseases at home and abroad,” the department posted on X.
The department has not otherwise commented.
Meanwhile, attorney Mark S. Zaid said he and another lawyer represent Monarez, and that’s not the case.
“Contrary to govt statements, Dr. Monarez has neither resigned nor yet been fired. She will not resign,” the post read.
The attorneys pointed to several other decisions by Kennedy, including the vaccine panel changes and the dismissal of scientists. They said Monarez is being targeted.
“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,” their statement read.
CDC issues
The conflicting reports come at an already tough time for the agency.
There was recent pushback from employees over the appointment of a COVID vaccine opponent to lead a federal review team.
At least 600 employees got termination notices last week and earlier this month, a man opened fire at the agency. That shooter blamed the COVID-19 vaccine for his depression despite no correlation between vaccines and depression.
Monarez reportedly earned the appreciation of employees for her empathetic response to the shooting. She also sent a note to employees, warning of the dangers of misinformation, but she did not mention Kennedy’s name.
ABC News published a snippet of the note, which read “the dangers of misinformation and its promulgation has now led to deadly consequences. I will work to restore trust in public health to those who have lost it —through science, evidence, and a clear purpose. I will need your help.”
