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Fired CDC director says RFK 'weaponising public health' as more leaders quit agency

August 28, 2025

The CDC Director, Susan Monarez, has been fired by the Trump administration after just one month in her position for being "not aligned with the president's agenda. " Following her dismissal, at least three senior CDC leaders resigned, including Chief Medical Officer Debra Houry, who expressed concerns about vaccine misinformation and budget cuts. The leadership shake-up comes amid tensions between Monarez and Health Secretary Robert F.

Who is affected

  • CDC Director Susan Monarez
  • Senior CDC leaders who resigned (Debra Houry, Daniel Jernigan, Demetre Daskalakis, and reportedly Jennifer Layden)
  • Approximately 600 CDC employees who were recently fired
  • CDC as an organization and its remaining staff
  • Healthcare workers potentially impacted by anti-vaccine rhetoric
  • The American public who rely on CDC public health guidance
  • Younger adults and children without underlying health conditions who are excluded from new Covid vaccines

What action is being taken

  • The White House is terminating CDC Director Susan Monarez
  • Senior CDC leaders are resigning in protest over vaccine policies and leadership concerns
  • Health Secretary Robert Kennedy Jr. is implementing changes to vaccine policies
  • The FDA is approving new Covid vaccines with limited eligibility
  • Emergency use authorizations for Covid vaccines are being rescinded
  • CDC employees are being laid off, including those working on infectious disease response and environmental hazards

Why it matters

  • The changes represent a significant shift in leadership at one of the world's foremost public health agencies
  • There are concerns about the spread of vaccine misinformation affecting public health policy
  • The CDC's approach to immunizations is changing under Kennedy's leadership
  • Significant workforce reductions affect the agency's ability to respond to infectious diseases and environmental hazards
  • Planned budget cuts may further impact the CDC's capabilities
  • The leadership changes reflect tensions between science-based approaches and political priorities

What's next

  • No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: BBC