Firing the CDC director for refusing to pre-approve vaccine recommendations

Editor's note: the former director's sworn testimony documents that she was fired for refusing the directives, but the account is disputed and no official finding establishes it.

Monarez was sworn in on July 31, 2025, with Kennedy praising her 'unimpeachable scientific credentials.' She testified that at an August 25 meeting Kennedy 'demanded two things of me that were inconsistent with my oath of office': to commit in advance to approving every recommendation of the reconstituted vaccine advisory committee 'regardless of the scientific evidence,' and to dismiss the career officials responsible for vaccine policy without cause. She said she refused, telling him that if he could not trust her he could fire her. She was terminated on August 27, and said she was fired 'for holding the line on scientific integrity.'

Kennedy gave a different account under oath, telling a Senate committee that he asked Monarez whether she was trustworthy, that she said no, and that he told her to resign on that basis. HHS said she was fired for 'declaring herself untrustworthy' and 'acting maliciously to undermine the President's agenda.' At the hearing Sen. Markwayne Mullin said a recording of the August 25 meeting contradicted Monarez; Sen. Cassidy later stated that Mullin had retracted that claim and that no such recording existed. Kennedy acknowledged separately that he had told Monarez to terminate scientists at the agency.

Three senior officials resigned in the days after. Chief Medical Officer Debra Houry testified that Kennedy's actions 'repeatedly censored CDC science, politicized our processes,' and that leaders 'were expected to serve as rubber stamps.' Cassidy, a physician who cast a deciding vote to confirm Kennedy, opened the hearing by asking: 'if someone is fired 29 days after every Republican votes for her... what happened? Did we fail?' Kennedy's earlier removal of the entire vaccine advisory committee is documented separately at SUB-05.