Fired CDC Chief to Testify Kennedy Demanded Preapproved Vaccine Policies/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Former CDC Director Susan Monarez will testify that Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. pressured her to endorse vaccine recommendations without evidence. Monarez claims she was fired for defending scientific integrity and refusing Kennedy’s demands. The Senate hearing highlights turmoil inside the CDC as a controversial advisory panel prepares to vote on vaccines.
CDC Leadership Turmoil Quick Looks
- Fired CDC director Susan Monarez to testify before Senate.
- Claims Kennedy ordered her to preapprove vaccine recommendations.
- Says she was forced out for protecting scientific integrity.
- Kennedy allegedly pressured firings of senior CDC officials.
- Senate hearing coincides with upcoming vaccine panel meeting.
- Panel to review vaccines for COVID-19, hepatitis B, and chickenpox.
- Acting CDC chief Jim O’Neill to handle endorsements.
- Democrats seek details on Kennedy’s vaccine stance; GOP skeptical of CDC.
Deep Look
Former CDC Director Alleges Kennedy Pressured Her Over Vaccine Endorsements
WASHINGTON — Fired Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) director Susan Monarez is set to deliver explosive testimony before the Senate health committee on Wednesday, alleging that Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. pressured her to approve new vaccine recommendations before she had seen scientific data.
According to a copy of her prepared remarks obtained by The Associated Press, Monarez will say Kennedy gave her an ultimatum: preapprove the recommendations from a CDC advisory panel — which he had partially restaffed with medical experts skeptical of vaccines — or lose her job.
“Even under pressure, I could not replace evidence with ideology or compromise my integrity,” Monarez plans to say in her testimony. “Vaccine policy must be guided by credible data, not predetermined outcomes.”
She adds bluntly: “I was fired for holding the line on scientific integrity.”
Fired Weeks Into Tenure
Monarez, who was nominated by President Donald Trump but handpicked by Kennedy for the CDC role, lasted only weeks before she was dismissed over policy disputes. She says Kennedy also ordered her to terminate several top-ranking CDC officials without justification, further undermining stability at the agency.
Her removal, along with that of other senior staff, has fueled criticism that the Biden administration’s public health leadership is eroding under political pressure.
Kennedy Pushes Back
Kennedy, who has long been critical of vaccine safety, has denied ordering Monarez to rubber-stamp recommendations. He countered that Monarez once admitted she was “untrustworthy,” a claim she has rejected through her attorney.
Still, during a contentious Senate appearance earlier this month, Kennedy acknowledged directing Monarez to fire senior CDC officials, raising alarms about political interference at the nation’s top public health institution.
Senate Hearing Context
The Senate health committee, led by Republican Sen. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, will probe the circumstances of Monarez’s dismissal and the broader impact on public trust. Cassidy, a physician, voted for Kennedy’s confirmation but has since voiced concern about “serious allegations” against him.
Joining Monarez at the hearing will be former CDC Chief Medical Officer Debra Houry, who also left the agency after clashing with Kennedy. Together, their testimonies are expected to provide senators with a rare insider account of turbulence within the CDC.
Vaccine Panel Meets This Week
The timing of the hearing is significant. On Thursday, a controversial CDC advisory panel — reshaped in part by Kennedy’s appointments — begins a two-day session in Atlanta. The panel will vote on updated recommendations for vaccines against COVID-19, hepatitis B, and chickenpox.
Some members have already questioned the necessity of administering hepatitis B shots to newborns, while others suggest scaling back COVID-19 guidance. Whatever the panel decides, the CDC director must formally endorse its recommendations before they become official.
Since Monarez’s firing, that responsibility has fallen to Acting Director Jim O’Neill, deputy secretary of Health and Human Services.
Partisan Divide Expected
Wednesday’s Senate session is expected to draw sharp partisan contrasts. Republicans are likely to press Monarez and Houry about the CDC’s handling of COVID-19 policies and previous vaccine guidance, reflecting ongoing skepticism of federal health agencies. Democrats, meanwhile, will focus on Kennedy’s management style and his history of questioning vaccines.
Public health experts warn that the turmoil could weaken trust in immunization programs at a time when vaccination rates have already dipped in some communities. “If Americans believe politics, not science, is driving decisions, the damage could be long-lasting,” said one former federal health official.
Integrity Versus Politics
Monarez’s testimony underscores a broader battle over the independence of U.S. health institutions. Her statement — “Vaccine policy must be guided by credible data” — reflects concerns that political interference could reshape long-standing public health norms.
As the CDC advisory panel meets and the Senate hearing unfolds, the questions raised go beyond personnel disputes: they touch on how the nation will safeguard scientific integrity while navigating polarized debates over vaccines and public health.
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