Leadership shake-up rocks CDC after sudden removal of Monarez

A leadership crisis has hit the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) after director Susan Monarez was forced out of office, sparking a wave of high-level resignations within hours.

The unexpected shake-up comes less than a month after her Senate confirmation, raising questions about the stability of the country’s top public health agency.

Dr Monarez’s sudden removal has not been explained.

However, her lawyer Mark Zaid said she had “refused to rubber-stamp unscientific, reckless directives and fire dedicated health experts.”

He added that she “chose protecting the public over serving an agenda” and stressed that his client had not resigned nor been formally informed of her dismissal.

The Department of Health and Human Services confirmed her departure in a post on X, thanking her “for her dedicated service to the American people.”

The agency added that Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr “has full confidence” in the CDC team, insisting it will continue to safeguard Americans from infectious diseases.

Shortly before the announcement, Dr Monarez had cancelled a scheduled agency-wide meeting after being summoned to Washington DC, according to CDC officials.

Within hours, at least three senior CDC leaders resigned.

Daniel Jernigan, head of the National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, stepped down citing “the current context in the Department.”

Chief Medical Officer Debra Houry resigned in a letter warning about “the rise of misinformation” on vaccines and cautioning that planned budget cuts would weaken the agency.

Demetre Deskalakis, who led the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, also quit, saying he could no longer serve “because of the ongoing weaponising of public health.”

Reports also indicate that Dr Jennifer Layden, director of the Office of Public Health Data, Surveillance and Technology, has left her post.

The wave of resignations has amplified concerns among health experts about the agency’s direction under Kennedy, a long-time vaccine sceptic.

Earlier this month, a group of current and former employees accused him in an open letter of fuelling hostility toward healthcare workers with his anti-vaccine rhetoric.

Dr Monarez, who holds a background in infectious disease research but not a medical degree, was nominated by former President Donald Trump after his first choice, former Congressman Dave Weldon, withdrew amid controversy over his views on vaccines and autism.

She was confirmed by the Senate in a party-line vote in July.

During her brief time as director, Dr Monarez faced a string of challenges, including leading the agency after its Atlanta headquarters was attacked by a gunman who claimed he had been harmed by Covid vaccines.

The attack, which left one police officer dead, saw hundreds of bullets fired into the building.

Her removal also comes just a week after the union representing CDC workers revealed the dismissal of about 600 employees.

The layoffs affected staff handling infectious diseases such as bird flu, as well as those studying environmental hazards and managing public records.

The leadership turmoil coincides with major policy changes on Covid vaccines.

On Wednesday, the Food and Drug Administration approved new doses for seniors but restricted access for younger adults and children without underlying conditions.

Kennedy, in a post on X, declared that “the emergency use authorizations for Covid vaccines, once used to justify broad mandates on the general public during the Biden administration, are now rescinded.”