<
https://www.npr.org/2025/08/27/g-s1-85911/cdc-director-susan-monarez-ousted-leaders-resign>
'NEW YORK — The director of the nation's top public health agency is out after
less than one month in the job, and several top agency leaders have resigned.
Officials did not explain why Susan Monarez was no longer with the agency, but
her lawyers said she was targeted for standing up for science.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced her departure in a
brief social media post Wednesday that said: "Susan Monarez is no longer
director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. We thank her for
her dedicated service to the American people."
On Wednesday evening, her lawyers Mark Zaid and Abbe David Lowell issued a
statement that said she had neither resigned nor been told she was fired.
"When CDC Director Susan Monarez refused to rubber-stamp unscientific, reckless
directives and fire dedicated health experts, she chose protecting the public
over serving a political agenda. For that, she has been targeted," the
attorneys wrote.
"This is not about one official. It is about the systematic dismantling of
public health institutions, the silencing of experts, and the dangerous
politicization of science. The attack on Dr. Monarez is a warning to every
American: our evidence-based systems are being undermined from within," they
said.
Her departure coincided with the resignations this week of at least four top
CDC officials. The list includes Dr. Debra Houry, the agency's deputy director;
Dr. Daniel Jernigan, head of the agency's National Center for Emerging and
Zoonotic Infectious Diseases; Dr. Demetre Daskalakis, head of its National
Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases; and Dr. Jennifer Layden,
director of the Office of Public Health Data, Surveillance, and Technology.
In an email seen by an
AP reporter, Houry lamented the crippling effects on
the agency from planned budget cuts, reorganization plans and firings.
"I am committed to protecting the public's health, but the ongoing changes
prevent me from continuing in my job as a leader of the agency," she wrote.'
Via Kenny Chaffin.
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
