Ex-CDC Director's Testimony Reveals Political Warfare in Public Health Policy

Ex-CDC Director's Testimony Reveals Political Warfare in Public Health Policy

In a recent Senate hearing, former Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Director Susan Monarez testified about her brief tenure and subsequent departure, alleging that she was pressured by Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to compromise scientific integrity.

Monarez, who served for 29 days, claimed that Robert F. Kennedy Jr. demanded she "commit in advance to approving every [Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices] recommendation, regardless of the scientific evidence."

She stated that this directive was "inconsistent with my oath of office and the ethics required of a public official." According to Monarez, she was also directed to terminate career scientists without cause.

Rand Paul just forced ousted CDC official Susan Monarez to admit the truth:

The Covid vaccine never stopped transmission.

They lied. They coerced. They mandated. They destroyed lives—based on a claim they knew wasn’t true.
pic.twitter.com/qJVks5N22J

— Dr. Simone Gold (@drsimonegold) September 18, 2025

The testimony introduced a direct conflict with Kennedy's previous statements, where he had claimed Monarez was "untrustworthy" and her firing was unrelated to policy disagreements.

The hearing also featured pointed questioning from Senator Rand Paul, who challenged the scientific rationale behind certain vaccine recommendations. He specifically questioned the COVID-19 vaccine for infants, stating,

"There is no benefit of hospitalization or death" for children in that age group. Paul also probed the necessity of the Hepatitis B vaccine for newborns whose mothers are not carriers of the disease. Monarez maintained that vaccine policy should be guided by "credible data, not predetermined outcomes."

Further allegations of political pressure were made by Dr. Debra Houry, the former CDC Chief Medical Officer, who resigned in protest.

Houry testified that Kennedy "censored CDC science, politicized its processes and stripped leaders of independence," and that his staff had requested the inclusion of unproven remedies in official medical toolkits.

The hearing underscored a deep divide between public health officials and the current administration.

While Monarez and Houry's testimony painted a picture of political interference, Republican senators, including Markwayne Mullin, expressed skepticism, with Mullin accusing Monarez of having an "honesty issue."

The committee's chairman, Senator Bill Cassidy, a physician, acknowledged the seriousness of the allegations and defended Dr. Monarez's right to contact his office as a form of oversight.

The proceedings concluded without resolution, leaving open questions about the extent of political influence on federal scientific institutions and the future of public trust in national health policy.

People Also Ask (PAA)

• Who is Susan Monarez and why was she fired from the CDC?
• Susan Monarez is the former Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) who served for 29 days before she was dismissed. According to her testimony, she was fired for refusing to approve changes to vaccine policy "regardless of the scientific evidence" and for not agreeing to dismiss career officials at the request of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
• What allegations did Susan Monarez make against Robert F. Kennedy Jr.?
• Monarez alleged that Kennedy pressured her to violate her oath of office by demanding she approve all future vaccine recommendations from a new advisory committee without first reviewing scientific evidence. She also testified that he directed her to fire senior CDC officials.
• Did the COVID-19 vaccine stop transmission, according to the Senate hearing?
• During the hearing, Senator Rand Paul stated that there is "no benefit of hospitalization or death" from the COVID-19 vaccine for children, a claim that challenges the vaccine's ability to prevent severe outcomes in this age group. Monarez, in her testimony, acknowledged that the vaccine's recommendation for infants was based on antibody response, not on data for preventing hospitalizations or deaths.
• What is the role of the CDC in setting vaccine policy?
• The CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) is responsible for creating a recommended immunization schedule for the United States. It is a panel of medical and public health experts who base their recommendations on a thorough review of scientific evidence and data.