White House removes CDC Director Susan Monarez

Less than a month after taking office, Dr. Susan Monarez has been removed from her position as Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), according to sources within the administration.

The dismissal comes amid rising tensions within the CDC over federal vaccine policies and public health guidelines. In recent days, four senior officials at the agency have also resigned, further deepening concerns over internal discord.

While the White House insists that Dr. Monarez stepped down voluntarily, no official reason has been provided for her resignation. The Trump administration has not publicly confirmed her termination, maintaining that she left of her own accord.

The Department of Health and Human Services has declined to comment on the situation.

Dr. Monarez was sworn in as CDC Director on July 31. Her short tenure drew attention after she withdrew a federal recommendation endorsing COVID-19 vaccinations for pregnant women and healthy children — a move that reportedly intensified friction within the agency.

The leadership shake-up raises fresh questions about the direction of U.S. public health policy heading into the fall.