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U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Susan Monarez is refusing to leave her role after being ousted by President Donald Trump's administration after about a month in office.
“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. For that, she has been targeted,” said Mark Zaid and Abbe Lowell, attorneys representing Monarez via NBC News.
“Dr. Monarez has neither resigned nor received notification from the White House that she has been fired, and as a person of integrity and devoted to science, she will not resign,” the attorneys added.
The White House quickly responded, claiming Monarez was fired because she wasn't aligned with the 'Making America Healthy Again' agenda launched by Trump and United States Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
“As her attorney’s statement makes abundantly clear, Susan Monarez is not aligned with the President’s agenda of Making America Healthy Again. Since Susan Monarez refused to resign despite informing HHS leadership of her intent to do so, the White House has terminated Monarez from her position with the CDC,” White House spokesman Kush Desai said via NBC News.
Zaid acknowledged that Monarez was appointed by Trump and confirmed by the senate, therefore, "only the president himself can fire her" and that "she remains as CDC Director."
The Department of Health and Human Services initially announced that “Monarez is no longer director” in a post shared on its X account Wednesday (August 27).
"We thank her for her dedicated service to the American people. @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 wrote.
At least four top officials announced their resignations after the post was shared including Dr. Debra Houry, the chief medical officer; Dr. Demetre Daskalakis, director of the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases; Dr. Daniel Jernigan, the director of the National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases; and Dr. Jen Layden, director of the Office of Public Health Data, Surveillance and Technology.