The Senate on Tuesday confirmed Susan Monarez to guide the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention, placing a longtime authorities scientist on the helm of an company being upended by Well being and Human Companies Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Monarez, 50, is President Trump’s second choose for the job. She was confirmed on a largely party-line vote, 51-47.
The CDC has not had a frontrunner since March, when Monarez stepped down as performing director as a result of she was nominated to be director. She is the primary nominee for CDC director to require Senate affirmation.
Monarez will take the helm of an company below fireplace.
The Trump administration is seeking to slash its funds by nearly half in 2026, and tons of of workers have been reduce. In the meantime, medical doctors and public well being consultants have accused Kennedy of undermining the company’s credibility by altering vaccine suggestions and firing all members of a vaccine advisory panel.
Within the absence of a director, Kennedy fired all 17 members of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) and changed them together with his personal handpicked members. The CDC director should log out on ACIP suggestions for them to develop into official company coverage, however Kennedy has taken on the function himself with no director in place.
Kennedy’s ACIP final month voted to take away the preservative thimerosal from flu vaccines, regardless of quite a few research exhibiting it’s secure, if hardly ever used anymore. Kennedy signed the advice final week; however he has but to signal one from the identical assembly recommending everybody get a flu shot.
He additionally bypassed conventional company pathways when he unilaterally introduced HHS would now not advocate COVID-19 vaccines for wholesome pregnant ladies and wholesome kids.
In contrast to different Trump well being nominees, Monarez isn’t generally known as a controversial flamethrower. She has labored within the federal authorities for practically 20 years throughout a number of workplaces however had not labored for the CDC previous to Trump tapping her because the company’s performing head shortly after starting his second time period.
Previous to her function at CDC, she served as deputy director on the Superior Analysis Initiatives Company for Well being (ARPA-H). Earlier than coming into authorities work, she was a science and expertise coverage fellow with the American Affiliation for the Development of Science.
Trump selected Monarez to guide the company after his first selection, former Florida Rep. Dave Weldon (R), failed to achieve sufficient assist amongst Senate Republicans. Weldon was closely scrutinized for selling a debunked hyperlink between vaccines and autism.
Throughout her affirmation listening to, Monarez instructed Democrats that “vaccines save lives” and mentioned there was no proof vaccines trigger autism.
However she walked a wonderful line and was cautious to not immediately contradict her would-be boss, regardless of prodding by Democratic senators. She superior via the Senate Well being, Schooling, Labor and Pensions Committee on a party-line vote.
“In my view, we need a CDC director who will defend science, protect public health, repudiate Secretary Kennedy’s dangerous conspiracy theories about safe and effective vaccines that have saved over the years millions of lives,” Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont), the highest Democrat on the HELP Committee, mentioned earlier than he voted in opposition to advancing her nomination to the ground.
“Unfortunately, after reviewing her record, I do not believe that Dr. Monarez sees that person,” Sanders mentioned.
In supporting Monarez’s nomination, HELP committee Chair Sen. Invoice Cassidy (R-La.) mentioned the nation “wants a CDC director who makes selections rooted in science, a frontrunner who will reform the company and work to revive public belief in well being establishments.”
