Latest news with #Monarez
09-07-2025
- Health
Senate committee advances Trump's pick for CDC director ahead of confirmation vote
The Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) voted to advance Susan Monarez's nomination as director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Wednesday. The panel voted along party lines 12-11. Monarez is the first CDC director nominee to require a Senate confirmation after Congress passed a law requiring it in 2022. If confirmed, Monarez will be the first CDC director without a medical degree since 1953. Ahead of the vote, in opening remarks, Ranking Member Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., accused Monarez of allowing Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to spread misinformation about vaccines. "In my view, we need a CDC director who will defend science, protect public health and repudiate Secretary Kennedy's dangerous conspiracy theories about effective vaccines that have saved, over the years, millions of lives," Sanders said. Monarez was named acting CDC director in January, stepping down after she was nominated for the position in March. It came after President Donald Trump's first pick, Dr. David Weldon, had his nomination pulled by the White House due to a lack of votes. Weldon was expected to be grilled on his past comments questioning vaccine safety, such as falsely suggesting vaccines are linked to autism. Monarez has worked in both the public and private sector -- including working in the government under former presidents George W. Bush, Barack Obama and Joe Biden, as well as during Trump's first term. Her work has included strategies to combat antimicrobial resistance. During her confirmation hearing last month, Monarez expressed support for vaccines, in contrast with Kennedy, who has expressed some skepticism. "I think vaccines save lives. I think that we need to continue to support the promotion of utilization of vaccines," Monarez said. While Kennedy has previously cited vaccines as a potential reason behind rising rates of autism diagnoses, Monarez said she did not hold the same view. "I have not seen a causal link between vaccines and autism," Monarez said when asked by Sanders last month if she agrees with the American Medical Association's stance "that there is no scientific proven link between vaccines and autism." While the CDC director role has been vacant, Kennedy has had final say over some CDC decisions, such as ending recommendations for children and pregnant women to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Additionally, Kennedy recently removed all 17 sitting members of the CDC's Advisory Committee of Immunization Practices (ACIP), an independent panel that provides recommendations on vaccines to the CDC, and replaced them with seven hand-selected members -- some of whom have expressed vaccine-skeptic views. Public health professionals previously told ABC News that, traditionally, only a CDC director would be able to reconstitute ACIP.
09-07-2025
- Health
Senate committee advances Susan Monarez to be Trump's CDC director
The U.S. Senate's health committee on Wednesday approved Susan Monarez to be President Donald Trump's director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, taking her one step closer to confirmation. The committee voted 12-11 for advancing her nomination to the full Senate. The vote went along party lines, with Democrats in opposition. Monarez, 50, is poised to become the first CDC director to pass through Senate confirmation following a 2023 law. She was named acting director in January and then tapped as the nominee in March after Trump abruptly withdrew his first choice, David Weldon. She holds a doctorate in microbiology and immunology from the University of Wisconsin, and a postdoctoral researcher at Stanford University. Prior to the CDC, Monarez was largely known for her government roles in health technology and biosecurity. The committee's action comes after months of turmoil with no leader at the helm of the Atlanta-based federal agency tasked with tracking diseases and responding to health threats. The CDC has been hit by widespread staff cuts, resignations of key officials and heated controversy over longstanding CDC vaccine policies upended by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Last month, Monarez told senators that she values vaccines, public health interventions and rigorous scientific evidence, but she largely dodged questions about whether those positions put her at odds with Kennedy, a longtime vaccine skeptic who has criticized and sought to dismantle some of the agency's previous protocols and decisions. 'Unfortunately, Dr. Monarez — who has served as Trump's acting CDC director — has done nothing to stand in the way" of Kennedy's actions, Sen. Bernie Sanders, the Vermont independent, said Wednesday. The CDC was created nearly 80 years ago to prevent the spread of malaria in the U.S. Its mission was later expanded, and it gradually became a global leader on infectious and chronic diseases and a go-to source of health information. The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute's Department of Science Education and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
The Hill
09-07-2025
- Health
- The Hill
Trump's CDC nominee advances on party-line vote in Senate
The Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions voted along party lines Wednesday to advance President Trump's nominee to lead the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The panel voted 12-11 to advance the nomination of Susan Monarez to be the next CDC director. 'The United States needs a CDC director who makes decisions rooted in science, a leader who reformed the agency and worked to restore public trust in health institutions with decades of proven experience as a public health official, Dr. Monarez is ready to take on this challenge,' said Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.), chair of the HELP committee. 'She is committed to improving transparency the CDC and properly communicating health guidance to the American people.' Monarez, a scientist in the federal service for nearly 20 years, sat for a confirmation hearing last month. She was careful to not discredit scientific consensus while also not breaking with either Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. or President Trump. She served as acting CDC director prior to her nomination in March . When asked if she disagreed with Kennedy on anything, Monarez avoided directly answering, saying she looked forward to 'supporting the secretary with science and evidence.' For Democrats on the HELP committee, Monarez did not establish enough daylight between herself and Kennedy's divisive and at times unfounded views. 'Under her watch the Trump administration has illegally delayed or canceled $11 billion in public health funding to fight infectious disease and to prepare for the next pandemic; urged important public health data from the website that scientists need to respond to disease outbreaks; and fire scientists who focus on worker safety, the health of mothers and children, birth defects, disabilities, smoking cessation and HIV prevention,' HELP Ranking Member Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) said when explaining his vote against Monarez. 'In my view, we need a CDC director who will defend science, protect public health, repudiate Secretary Kennedy's dangerous conspiracy theories about safe and effective vaccines that have saved over the years millions of lives,' added Sanders. 'Unfortunately, after reviewing her record, I do not believe that Dr. Monarez sees that person.' HELP Democrat Sen. Patty Murray (Wash.) lamented that the committee was not fulfilling its duty to carry out oversight over Kennedy and major health issues like the ongoing measles outbreak. She argued having the 'best CDC director in the world' would make no difference with Kennedy in power and the committee not keeping him in check. 'I really do hope that Dr. Monarez will defy my expectations. I hope she will stand up for science and put public health first. But again, I hope that for others and here we are today,' said Murray.
San Francisco Chronicle
09-07-2025
- Health
- San Francisco Chronicle
Senate committee advances Susan Monarez to be Trump's CDC director
The U.S. Senate's health committee on Wednesday approved Susan Monarez to be President Donald Trump's director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, taking her one step closer to confirmation. The committee voted 12-11 for advancing her nomination to the full Senate. The vote went along party lines, with Democrats in opposition. Monarez, 50, is poised to become the first CDC director to pass through Senate confirmation following a 2023 law. She was named acting director in January and then tapped as the nominee in March after Trump abruptly withdrew his first choice, David Weldon. She holds a doctorate in microbiology and immunology from the University of Wisconsin, and a postdoctoral researcher at Stanford University. Prior to the CDC, Monarez was largely known for her government roles in health technology and biosecurity. The committee's action comes after months of turmoil with no leader at the helm of the Atlanta-based federal agency tasked with tracking diseases and responding to health threats. The CDC has been hit by widespread staff cuts, resignations of key officials and heated controversy over longstanding CDC vaccine policies upended by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Last month, Monarez told senators that she values vaccines, public health interventions and rigorous scientific evidence, but she largely dodged questions about whether those positions put her at odds with Kennedy, a longtime vaccine skeptic who has criticized and sought to dismantle some of the agency's previous protocols and decisions. 'Unfortunately, Dr. Monarez — who has served as Trump's acting CDC director — has done nothing to stand in the way" of Kennedy's actions, Sen. Bernie Sanders, the Vermont independent, said Wednesday. The CDC was created nearly 80 years ago to prevent the spread of malaria in the U.S. Its mission was later expanded, and it gradually became a global leader on infectious and chronic diseases and a go-to source of health information. ___ The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute's Department of Science Education and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
Politico
09-07-2025
- Health
- Politico
Senate panel advances Trump's nominee to lead CDC
President Donald Trump's pick to run the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is one step closer to confirmation. On Wednesday, the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee voted to advance the nomination of Susan Monarez, a former agency acting director who has held various health-related roles in the federal government for 20 years. Monarez advanced along a 12-11 party-line vote. 'She is committed to improving transparency to CDC and properly communicating health guidance to the American people,' said Chair Bill Cassidy (R-La.) 'This is especially crucial as the nations combat reemerging public health threats like measles, which has taken three lives in the United States this year — one that's not included, but is tragic, is the Canadian woman who was pregnant, got exposed to measles and lost her child — and hospitalized many more due to misinformation regarding the measles vaccine.' Public health experts also say that Monarez is well-qualified to lead the agency — and hope she could become a bulwark against some of HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s vaccine policy changes. 'There's a delicate dance that she will have to do if she wants to maintain her job,' said Dr. Richard Besser, a former acting director of the CDC and CEO of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. 'Understanding how to push back and when to push back will be critical to her success.' Democrats, nonetheless, pushed back, citing Kennedy. 'Dr. Monarez stood by while Secretary Kennedy spread misinformation about vaccines,' said ranking member Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) ACIP role: In addition to running the CDC, Monarez will also have significant power over vaccine access if the full Senate confirms her. Last month, Kennedy fired all the members of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices — the expert panel that votes on updates to the childhood and adult vaccine schedules — and appointed new members more aligned with his views on vaccination. The panel later voted to stop recommending flu vaccines with thimerosal — a preservative that has for decades been deemed safe by health agencies — to anyone. But before the panel's recommendations become official, the CDC director or the HHS secretary must sign off on them. Key context: Monarez has advanced further in the confirmation process than Dr. Dave Weldon, Trump's first pick to run the agency. The administration dropped Weldon, a former Florida congressman with a long history of vaccine skepticism, when it became clear he did not have enough votes to advance. A full Senate vote has yet to be scheduled on the nomination.
