Agency Turmoil Unveiled: Former CDC Director Discusses Conflicts with Kennedy and Agency Upheaval
In a dramatic turn of events, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has been embroiled in a controversy surrounding the appointment of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as a board member. The controversy, which has sparked heated debates among politicians and health experts, has led to the dismissal of Dr. Susan Monarez, the former director of the CDC.
Dr. Monarez was fired in August 2025, reportedly for holding the line on scientific integrity. According to her, she refused to comply with Kennedy's demands to fire top CDC scientists and to sign off on vaccine recommendations without seeing the data or science underlying them. Kennedy, in a private meeting with Dr. Monarez, is said to have called CDC employees 'corrupt' and accused them of 'killing children.'
Kennedy's tenure at the CDC has been marked by a series of controversial decisions. He announced in August 2025 that he would reorganize the CDC and dismiss 17 members of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). Dr. Monarez testified that Kennedy claimed there was no science or evidence behind the existing childhood vaccine recommendations.
Kennedy tried to prevent Dr. Monarez from communicating with career CDC experts or senators, insisting that decisions be routed through political appointees. He reportedly directed Dr. Monarez to dismiss career officials responsible for vaccine policy without cause and to commit in advance to approving every recommendation made by the vaccine advisory panel, 'without data or science.'
Dr. Monarez's dismissal has sparked a wave of criticism and support. Senator Bernie Sanders questioned why she was fired, suggesting it was due to her refusal to act as a rubber stamp for Kennedy's agenda. Democrats treated Dr. Monarez like a hero, while some Republicans who voted to confirm her accused her of lying.
The controversy comes at a critical time for public health. The United States has already had a measles resurgence this year, and whooping cough cases are higher now than they were before the Covid pandemic. Dr. Monarez warned that if vaccines became harder to get, preventable diseases would surge back, and that American children would be harmed.
The ACIP is preparing to meet in Atlanta on Thursday and Friday. The meeting is expected to be a heated one, with members debating the future of vaccine policy under Kennedy's leadership. Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky and Senator Roger Marshall of Kansas have expressed skepticism about the CDC's vaccination schedule and whether all the recommendations are backed by rigorous science.
Senator Bill Cassidy, Republican of Louisiana, cast a crucial vote that cleared the way for Kennedy's confirmation. When asked whether he was more persuaded by Dr. Monarez's account or Kennedy's earlier this month before a different committee, Senator Cassidy declined to answer. Senator Tim Kaine publicly apologized to Dr. Monarez.
The controversy surrounding Kennedy's appointment and Dr. Monarez's dismissal raises important questions about the role of politics in public health policy and the importance of scientific integrity. As the ACIP prepares to meet, the future of vaccine policy in the United States remains uncertain.
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