CDC Staff Rally After Officials Resign Over RFK Jr. Policies/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ CDC staff staged a walkout Thursday as three senior officials resigned following the ouster of Director Susan Monarez. Supporters gathered outside headquarters, cheering leaders who opposed Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s policies. Jim O’Neill was appointed acting CDC director.
CDC Walkout Quick Looks
- Senior CDC officials Daskalakis, Houry, Jernigan resigned Thursday
- Staff staged a walkout in protest of leadership shake-up
- Ousted CDC director Susan Monarez refused to leave her post
- Rally signs read “Save the CDC” and “Thank You CDC”
- Supporters cheered officials as they exited headquarters in Atlanta
- White House named Jim O’Neill acting CDC director
- O’Neill aligned with RFK Jr.’s “Make America Healthy Again” agenda
- O’Neill criticized CDC during COVID, backed unproven treatments
- Despite criticism, O’Neill testified he is “strongly pro-vaccine”
- Trump administration insists changes restore “trust and transparency”
Deep Look: CDC Staff Rally as Senior Leaders Resign in Protest of Kennedy’s Policies
Supporters lined the sidewalks outside the CDC’s global headquarters in Atlanta, holding signs reading “Save the CDC,” “You Are Heroes,” and “Thank You CDC.” They applauded and cheered as Demetre Daskalakis, Debra Houry, and Daniel Jernigan exited the building, escorted by colleagues.
The demonstration came just hours after the White House confirmed that Susan Monarez, who had been ousted as CDC director for refusing to resign, was being replaced on an acting basis by Jim O’Neill, a longtime biotech investor and Kennedy ally.
Internal Shake-Up and Resignations
The resignations followed a dramatic week at the CDC, where political pressure from the Trump administration and Kennedy’s health agenda created mounting tension.
While Monarez was removed against her will, the other three officials chose to quit rather than align with policies they described as undermining vaccine confidence and public health science.
“The erosion of trust in vaccines will bring us back to a pre-vaccine era,” Daskalakis wrote in his resignation letter earlier this week.
O’Neill’s Appointment and Policy Implications
The White House named Jim O’Neill as acting CDC director, signaling a clear shift toward Kennedy’s “Make America Healthy Again” agenda.
O’Neill, who previously worked in the George W. Bush administration, is closely tied to Trump ally Peter Thiel and has been part of Kennedy’s inner circle since late 2024.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, O’Neill publicly criticized the CDC’s approach and supported experimental treatments such as ivermectin, which were not endorsed by scientific evidence. However, in June confirmation hearings for his role as HHS deputy secretary, he insisted he is “strongly pro-vaccine.”
The White House framed the appointment as a necessary change. Press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Trump and Kennedy were committed to “restoring trust, transparency, and credibility” at the CDC.
Staff Reaction and Ongoing Fallout
The walkout underscored the depth of dissent within the CDC. Many staff expressed fear that the administration’s policies could weaken the agency’s scientific standing and damage public trust in vaccines and health guidance.
Despite Monarez’s ouster, she has refused to vacate her post, setting up a potential standoff as O’Neill assumes authority in an acting role.
The resignations, combined with ongoing protests, highlight a widening rift between the CDC workforce and Trump-Kennedy leadership — a rift that could shape U.S. public health policy in the months ahead.
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