Kennedy Oversees CDC Director Ouster, Mass Layoffs, Vaccine Policy Overhaul

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is undergoing significant upheaval under Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has initiated mass layoffs, major vaccine policy changes, and leadership shakeups, including the firing of CDC Director Susan Monarez less than a month into her tenure. Monarez's removal followed her refusal to comply with Kennedy's demands to accept vaccine advisory committee recommendations and to dismiss certain officials, prompting the resignation of four senior CDC leaders in protest against the politicization of public health. Kennedy has replaced the CDC's vaccine advisory committee members with individuals holding anti-vaccine views and altered long-standing vaccine guidelines, including restricting access to COVID-19 vaccines to require a doctor's recommendation. These changes have sparked concern among public health experts and CDC staff, who staged a walkout in solidarity with the ousted officials, highlighting internal dissent amid what some describe as a chaotic organizational environment. The White House supports these actions, framing them as aligning the CDC with President Trump's broader health agenda despite widespread criticism. This turmoil has raised questions about the future of public health initiatives in the U.S. during the ongoing 11th wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.