Susan Monarez resigned as director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention after less than a month's position, making her the shortest director in the agency's 79-year history.
Neither the agency nor Monares provided a reason for a formal departure. However, the Department of Health and Human Services did confirm her exit through a post on X on Wednesday afternoon.
“Susan Monarez is no longer the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. We thank her for her dedicated service to the American people. @Seckennedy is confident in his team at @CDCGOV and he will continue to be vigilant to protect Americans from infectious diseases at home and abroad,” he said.
Monarez's brief tenure occurred during a turbulent period of the CDC.
She was sworn in on July 31, and on August 8, a gunman opened fire on the Atlanta campus of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, firing more than 180 shots and killing a policeman.
Gunner Patrick Joseph White reportedly blamed his depression and suicide thoughts on his co-vaccination. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation described the shooting as a targeted attack on the CDC, which was linked to his dissatisfaction with the vaccine.
The tragic incident occurred when the agency was already working to lay off employees, with the main leader leaving and at HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
This summer, Kennedy removed the long-term Immunization Advisory Committee of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which historically consists of independent scientists and doctors who have developed evidence-based vaccine guidelines. He appointed members with a history of questioning or opposing mainstream vaccine recommendations, including some related to anti-vaccine advocacy groups, such as the Child Health Defense and the Informed Consent Action Network.
Government officials familiar with the matter said Washington Post This week.
Monares was forced by Kennedy and other officials to revoke certain COVID-19-19-19-19-19-19-19-19 vaccine approvals, the sources said, and she refused to commit to the changes without consulting.
This created friction, and she recruited Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-Louisiana), who voted on Kennedy's confirmation after mediated that he would maintain the established vaccine safety mechanism – a mediation. This further angered Kennedy, and Monares was elected to step down or fired. postal.
Prior to working at the CDC, Monarez was Deputy Director of the Advanced Research Programs Agency (ARPA-H). She has worked in government agencies for about 20 years – in addition to CDC and ARPA-H, she has served in the Department of Homeland Security and the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy.
Monarez's most experience working with the federal government has been committed to strengthening the country's preparation and response to biological, chemical and other health-related threats.
Photo: Washington Post, Getty Images
