Resignations Rock the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

According to an official post on the Department of Health and Human Services' X account, Susan Monarez is no longer the director of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Her tenure in this position lasted merely a month. In the aftermath of her seemingly forced departure, several other CDC leaders have tendered their resignations.

Monarez's Tenure

Named acting CDC director in January, Monarez was officially confirmed by the Senate on July 29 and sworn in two days later. During her brief stint, the CDC's main campus in Atlanta was the site of a disturbing incident. A gunman, blaming the Covid - 19 vaccine for his illness and depression, launched an attack. In the line of duty, local police officer David Rose was fatally shot by the suspect.

Allegations from Monarez's Lawyers

On Wednesday evening, Mark Zaid and Abbe David Lowell, Monarez's lawyers, issued a statement alleging that she was "targeted" for her refusal "to rubber - stamp unscientific, reckless directives and fire dedicated health experts." The statement further emphasized that Monarez had not resigned, nor did she plan to, and claimed that she had not received any notice of being fired.

Other Senior Officials' Resignations

Emails obtained by WIRED indicate that at least three other senior CDC officials resigned on Wednesday evening. They are Demetre Daskalakis, the director of the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases; Debra Houry, the chief medical officer and deputy director for program and science; and Daniel Jernigan, the director of the National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases. CDC staff with knowledge of these departures anticipate that more resignations will soon be made public.

Concerns Among CDC Employees

One anonymous CDC employee, expressing concerns over potential retribution, voiced worries that "political appointees will not base decisions on science, but rather focus on furthering the administration's agenda." The employee also feared that "the next directors will not support and protect staff."

Background on CDC Leadership Nominations

President Donald Trump's initial choice to lead the CDC was David Weldon, a physician and former Republican congressman from Florida known for making statements questioning vaccine safety. However, hours before his Senate confirmation hearing in March, the White House withdrew Weldon's nomination. Subsequently, the administration nominated Monarez.

Vaccine Policy Upheaval and Its Impact

The CDC leadership exits coincide with recent upheaval in vaccine policy instigated by HHS secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. In May, he removed the Covid - 19 vaccine from the CDC's recommended vaccines list for healthy children and pregnant women. The following month, he dismissed all 17 sitting members of the CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, a group of independent experts responsible for making science - based vaccine recommendations. In their place, he installed eight new members, several of whom are long - time vaccine critics. Kennedy stated at the time that "a clean sweep is necessary to re - establish public confidence in vaccine science."

Earlier this month, under Kennedy's leadership, HHS canceled half a billion dollars in funding for mRNA vaccine research. This month also saw the reinstatement of the Task Force on Safer Childhood Vaccines, a federal advisory panel established by Congress in 1986 to enhance vaccine safety and oversight for US children. The panel was disbanded in 1998 after issuing its final report. Public health experts are concerned that this panel could further undermine established vaccine science.

Reasons for Departures in Officials' Own Words

In her email to staff, Houry cited the ongoing changes at the agency as the reason for her departure. She stated, "For the good of the nation and the world, the science at CDC should never be censored or subject to political pauses or interpretations. Vaccines save lives—this is an indisputable, well - established, scientific fact. Informed consent and shared decision - making must focus not only on the risks but also on the true, life - saving benefits that vaccines provide to individuals and communities. Recently, the overstating of risks and the rise of misinformation have cost lives, as demonstrated by the highest number of US measles cases in 30 years and the violent attack on our agency."

Jernigan, who has served at the CDC since 1994, said in an email to staff, "I believe strongly in the mission of public health and the leadership that CDC has provided for almost 80 years; however, given the current context in the department, I feel it is best for me to offer my resignation."

Daskalakis, in his email, stated, "I am not able to serve in this role any longer because of the ongoing weaponizing of public health." In a more detailed statement on Instagram, he added, "The recent change in the adult and children's immunization schedule threaten the lives of the youngest Americans and pregnant people. The data analyses that supported this decision have never been shared with CDC despite my respectful requests to HHS and other leadership."

Concerns for the CDC's Future

The current turmoil at the CDC has left remaining staffers worried about the agency's future. Another anonymous CDC employee, fearing retribution, expressed, "My main concern is they will be replaced with puppets, which will lead to people not getting the vaccines they need, which will lead to more preventable outbreaks."

Additional reporting: Vittoria Elliott and Leah Feiger