The Senate confirms Susan Monarez as the new director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Kayla Bartkowski/Getty Image Hide Title
Switch title
Kayla Bartkowski/Getty Images
After months of layoffs and disease outbreaks, without a formal leader, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention finally has a new director.
The Senate confirmed that health scientist and long-time civil servant Susan Monarez operates the Public Health Bureau. She is the first Senate Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to be confirmed under the law passed in 2023, and the first position to serve without a medical degree for more than 70 years. The vote is 51-47, along the boundaries of the party.
Monares took over an institution in chaos, according to employees who spoke with NPR. Thousands of workers have left in recent months, and support for many programs has been cut. President Trump proposes to cut CDC funds in fiscal 2026.
“We really need her to take this position,” said Jennifer Nuzzo, director of the Pandemic Center of Brown University's School of Public Health. “She is a loyal, hard-working civil servant who leads with evidence and pragmatism and is committed to improving American health throughout her career.”
Monarez, a training microbiologist and immunologist, served as acting director of the CDC from January to March this year, resigned when Trump chose her as director. Previously, she served as Deputy Director of the Senior Research Projects Bureau, ARPA-H, the government agency that funded cutting-edge biomedical and health research.
Monares is nominated after Weldon is nominated
She was nominated as a CDC director after Trump withdrew from Florida doctor Dave Weldon, when the Senator expressed concerns about his position on the vaccine, including previous claims about vaccine safety and said he failed to vote.
Dr. Georges Benjamin, executive director of the American Public Health Association, previously called Weldon “not the right worker,” and was optimistic about Monarez. “She values science, is a solid researcher and has a history of being an excellent manager, and we look forward to working with her,” Benjamin said.
During a confirmation hearing held in June at the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, Monares said that restoring trust in the CDC was one of her top priorities. “I will rebuild credibility by making CDC leaders more open and responsible…[and] Ensure that all recommendations are supported by the publicly available gold standard science. ” she said.
Monarez also lists modern public health infrastructure and responds quickly to disease outbreaks as other priorities. “We know that the next outbreak is not a problem, but when, and I will implement a tested, predefined program with evidence in evidence to avoid confusion and delays and to enhance risk communication so that the public can get timely access to consistent guidance based on facts rather than fear,” she said. “These priorities support the President and Secretary’s American vision.
Tensions between public health norms and government agendas
At the hearing, Monarez is in a traditional public health perspective and her boss, Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr., now he oversees federal health agencies including the CDC, the Food and Drug Administration and the National Institutes of Health.
In response to the question of Delaware Democratic Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester, whether she will be committed to keeping our children routine vaccines, Monares said: “Vaccines can definitely save lives and if I’m identified as a CDC director, I will make sure we continue to make sure vaccine availability prioritize vaccines.”
Monares also said she believes fluoride is an important part of oral health and that fluorinated tap water in the community is safe. For decades, despite Health Secretary Kennedy directing the CDC to change its guidance on practice, the fluoride content is lower to prevent cavities, a charge that has not yet identified health hazards at recommended fluoride levels.
During the hearing, Monares repeatedly defended the Trump administration’s vision for the CDC, which she called “a core mission to prevent, detect and respond to infectious diseases and emerging threats.” She said plans to focus on other health issues she described as “important public health issues,” such as chronic illness, obesity, depression, drug addiction and overdose, would transition to other parts of HHS. Kennedy announced that he is creating a new government for a healthy America that may focus on primary care, mental health, environmental health, and more.
“The secretary put forward a very clear vision that could make the United States healthy again,” Monares said. Responding to the question of Kennedy's performance as health secretary, “I think he has prioritized key public health activities to prevent chronic diseases to reduce maternal morbidity and mortality. … I think important work is achieved through a very complex institution through a different transfer.”''
Scientific balanced behavior
Observers say Monarez will balance her new boss’ distrust of science and healthcare facilities. Kennedy, for example, replaced the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s vaccine consultant bench with his own choice, many of whom lack the expertise of the vaccine. “My biggest anxiety about her is whether she can drive the strategic approach she is familiar with with independence and the commitment to letting the evidence forward,” said Nuzzo of Brown University.
Monarez inherited an agency that inherited a place from deep staff cuts, funding rebates and communications blockades. “Morethy is very low, the CDC has been the gold standard for public health organizations in the world and has been paralyzed,” said Benjamin of Apha.
According to figures provided by the office on behalf of Rosa Delauro (D-CT), the CDC has lost about a third of its staff since January.
More changes are expected in the ongoing restructuring efforts, including budget cuts, aimed at eliminating non-infectious diseases from the CDC’s responsibilities.
Dr. Nirav Shah, former chief deputy director of the CDC, said it was short-sighted and he left the agency in February.
“Health is multifaceted, not only the mosquitoes and viruses we are exposed to, but also the exercise we get, the food we eat, and the environment we live in. At present, the CDC should really take all these risks and balance into account.”