Trump Fires CDC Director Amid Multiple Senior Resignations

Susan Monarez, the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), has been fired by the Trump administration after less than a month in the role, amid disputes over COVID-19 vaccine policies. Monarez's attorneys argue that only President Trump himself has the authority to terminate her and accuse the administration of targeting her for refusing to endorse what they called "unscientific, reckless directives" and for protecting public health rather than serving a political agenda. The White House stated Monarez was dismissed because she was not aligned with President Trump's agenda of "Making America Healthy Again" and because she refused to resign despite informing HHS leadership of her intent to do so. Her firing coincided with the resignation of several other top CDC leaders, who cited concerns about budget cuts, agency reorganization, and the politicization of science undermining public health institutions. The broader conflict reportedly involves pressure from senior officials, including Robert F. Kennedy Jr., to rescind certain COVID-19 vaccine approvals, which Monarez resisted, leading to heightened tensions within the agency. This leadership crisis highlights ongoing struggles over public health policy and scientific integrity under the Trump administration.