Fired CDC Director Says RFK Jr. Pressured Her To Approve Vaccine Recs Without Data
Recently-fired Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Director Susan Monarez testified today that Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. pressured her to approve all vaccine recommendations from a key committee without reviewing supporting data, and to fire career scientists without cause.
Monarez warned that the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, or ACIP, may approve major changes to the current U.S. vaccine schedule in their meeting tomorrow without credible science to back up the changes — raising concerns about a lack of rigor and oversight with no permanent CDC director in place.
Kennedy fired all of ACIP’s 17 members in June, claiming they were biased and had ethical issues. Many of the new members he appointed have a history of being critical of vaccines.
In her more than three-hour Senate hearing on Wednesday, Monarez detailed a clash happening at the CDC, culminating in her dismissal just 29 days into her tenure in late August. Multiple senior CDC officials resigned in response to her firing — one joined to testify.
HE SAID / SHE SAID
Kennedy denied issuing Monarez an ultimatum, and during his testimony before the Senate this month, said she had lied and was untrustworthy.
Monarez recounted a “tense” meeting with Kennedy that she says led to her firing, in which he told her the “childhood vaccine schedule would be changing starting in September” and that she “needed to be on board.”
She then reportedly contacted Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA), a gastroenterologist who chairs the committee. Upon hearing that she reached out to Cassidy, Monarez testified that Kennedy instructed her not to speak to members of Congress.
“It is entirely appropriate for someone with oversight concerns to contact my office, or me, or frankly, any of us,” Cassidy said, adding that he reached out to Kennedy and the White House to raise his own concerns about Monarez’s account.
CRISIS AT THE CDC
Overall, Monarez and Dr. Deb Houry, one of the senior CDC officials who resigned in protest of Monarez’s firing, accuse Kennedy of having little interest in the data and science. They say he has an agenda and is moving to politicize the agency.
Houry testified that under RFK Jr.’s leadership, the CDC has removed the career public health officials in the CDC director’s office. Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) noted that career public health officials are meant to provide continuity and scientific expertise throughout different presidential administrations, while working alongside political appointees to advance an administration’s goals.
Houry, who reported serving under four administrations, said 80% of CDC center directors are now in “acting” roles after widespread firings and resignations. Under Trump, about 2,400 CDC employees — roughly 18% of staff — face layoffs.
Monarez testified that in late August, she was directed not to speak with career scientists, but only with political appointees installed by Kennedy.
Kennedy shared clips on X from Republican allies on the committee who challenged Monarez’s assertions about vaccines, the agency, and her choice of attorneys.
“The burden is upon you and the people you wouldn’t fire to prove to us we need to give our 6-month old a Covid vaccine and that we need to give our 1-day-old a Hep B vaccine,” Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) said.
“I actually agree with you and I was open to the science. I just would not pre-commit to approving [changes] without the science,” Monarez responded.
Notably, Cassidy ended the hearing by stressing the effectiveness and importance of the hepatitis B vaccine for infants, warning ACIP that removing it from the schedule could have serious consequences. (He’s also been posting about the issue in recent weeks.)