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Judge blocks Trump from closing East Potomac Park golf course for now Trump asks Supreme Court to curb judges' power to void unlawful rules nationwide On tape: Richard Blumenthal says the Trump administration let $190 million in anti-human trafficking grants lapse On tape: Rep. Chip Roy, a Republican, on the House floor: the president never asked Congress before sending troops… Massie to force new House vote to end Trump's Iran war before he leaves in January Over 200 Democrats ask appeals court to strike down VA's abortion ban for veterans Kushner says U.S. is brokering Europe-Russia talks and planning next Ukraine round Blumenthal says Lutnick 'must go' over stalled Nvidia chip blacklist for Megaspeed NBC says Democrat Mary Peltola likely to beat Sen. Dan Sullivan in Alaska On tape: Hakeem Jeffries: Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick could face Intel Committee subpoenas over Nvidia scandal Judge blocks Trump from closing East Potomac Park golf course for now Trump asks Supreme Court to curb judges' power to void unlawful rules nationwide On tape: Richard Blumenthal says the Trump administration let $190 million in anti-human trafficking grants lapse On tape: Rep. Chip Roy, a Republican, on the House floor: the president never asked Congress before sending troops… Massie to force new House vote to end Trump's Iran war before he leaves in January Over 200 Democrats ask appeals court to strike down VA's abortion ban for veterans Kushner says U.S. is brokering Europe-Russia talks and planning next Ukraine round Blumenthal says Lutnick 'must go' over stalled Nvidia chip blacklist for Megaspeed NBC says Democrat Mary Peltola likely to beat Sen. Dan Sullivan in Alaska On tape: Hakeem Jeffries: Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick could face Intel Committee subpoenas over Nvidia scandal
Susan Monarez
Photo: U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Public domain

The Administration · Out the door

Susan Monarez

Former CDC Director Out the door

Career government scientist who was Trump's own choice to run the CDC and was fired after 29 days in a dispute with Robert F. Kennedy Jr. over vaccine policy.

Why they left: The White House fired her on August 27, 2025, less than a month after she was sworn in; she told the Senate she was removed for refusing to approve vaccine recommendations in advance and to fire career scientists, while Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said he asked her to go because she was not trustworthy. 2 3 Now: Wikipedia says she was hired in December 2025 as an adviser to a California Department of Public Health technology program; that claim is flagged there as needing a citation. 1

Biography

Susan Monarez grew up in rural Wisconsin and earned a doctorate in microbiology and immunology at the University of Wisconsin. 1 She spent nearly two decades in federal science and security posts, including at the White House science office, the Department of Homeland Security and the health research agency ARPA-H. 1

She became acting CDC director in January 2025. Trump nominated her for the permanent job in March after withdrawing his first choice, and the Senate confirmed her 51-47 on July 29, 2025. 1 2 She was sworn in on July 31. 2

On August 27, 2025 the health department announced she was no longer director. Her lawyers said she had refused to approve unscientific directives and to fire health experts. 2 At least three senior CDC officials resigned the same day. 2 The agency had no confirmed director for nearly a year, until the Senate approved Dr. Erica Schwartz on August 5, 2026. 4

In the job

What happened while Susan held the post.

  1. Sworn in as the CDC's 21st director. 2

  2. Met with Kennedy, who she says told her to pre-approve all recommendations of his vaccine advisory panel and to dismiss career vaccine officials, or resign. 3

  3. The health department said she was no longer director; her lawyers said she had neither resigned nor been told she was fired, and the White House then confirmed her dismissal. 1 2

  4. Testified to the Senate health committee, alongside former CDC chief medical officer Debra Houry, that she was fired for holding the line on scientific integrity. 3

Disputes, and their side

What critics, courts or investigators have said, and the answer given. An allegation is not a finding.

  1. Monarez testified that Kennedy demanded she approve vaccine panel recommendations without reviewing evidence and fire career officials without cause. 3

    Their side: Kennedy told the Senate Finance Committee that her account was false and that he asked her to resign because she was not trustworthy. 1 3

  2. Her attorneys argued that only the president could remove a Senate-confirmed director. 1

    Their side: A White House spokesman announced the same day that she had been fired; she stopped seeking reinstatement by September 3, 2025, according to STAT as cited by Wikipedia. 1

Career

  1. Postdoctoral researcher, Stanford University School of Medicine
  2. Science adviser at the federal biodefense agency BARDA and at the Homeland Security research agency
  3. White House Office of Science and Technology Policy and National Security Council staff
  4. Deputy assistant secretary, Department of Homeland Security
  5. Office director, Health Resources and Services Administration
  6. Deputy director, ARPA-H
  7. Acting CDC director
  8. CDC director

Our reporting on Susan Monarez

Sources for this file

  1. Wikipedia, Susan Monarez, Nov. 13, 2026
  2. AP (via PBS NewsHour), Susan Monarez ousted as CDC director after less than a month as other agency leaders resign, Aug. 27, 2025
  3. CIDRAP (University of Minnesota), Fired CDC director describes pressure from Kennedy over vaccines, Sept. 17, 2025
  4. AP (via News4JAX), Senate confirms Dr. Erica Schwartz as CDC director, bringing new leadership to troubled agency, Aug. 5, 2026

File checked Nov. 13, 2026. Something wrong or out of date? Tell the desk.