President Trump nominated Susan Monarez to permanently lead the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), making her the first nonphysician to head the agency in more than five decades.
Apoorva Mandavilli and Sheryl Gay Stolberg report for The New York Times.
In short:
- Monarez took over as acting CDC director in January and was expected to serve temporarily until the administration withdrew its original nominee, Dave Weldon.
- Her background in biomedical research and support for COVID vaccines marks a shift from the vaccine-skeptical stance of previous candidates favored by the administration.
- Internally, CDC staff voiced concerns about her absence, lack of communication, and compliance with directives that removed LGBTQ-related content from the agency’s website.
Key quote:
“She clearly understands public health and the role governmental public health plays. I believe the public health community can work with her in a positive manner.”
— Dr. Georges Benjamin, executive director of the American Public Health Association
Why this matters:
The CDC, long viewed as the gold standard for public health guidance, is navigating some of its most turbulent times in decades. Following a string of political pressures, pandemic-era stumbles, and shifting leadership, the agency’s credibility has taken a hit. Now, as measles cases tick up in states like Florida and Ohio and vaccine skepticism remains stubbornly high, the CDC’s ability to respond swiftly — and be believed — is under the microscope. The nomination of Monarez, a public health official with relevant credentials but little national profile, signals both a pivot away from anti-science voices and a possible tightening of political control over the agency’s voice.
Monarez's appointment is unfolding under the Trump administration’s broader effort to streamline — or, some argue, muzzle — federal agencies. The CDC has already been asked to vet its language and pare back staff in several departments, a move critics say could undermine its already strained operations. In this environment, the agency’s independence is central to public health. If the public starts doubting the agency’s recommendations, the consequences will show up in ERs, classrooms, and workplaces across the country.
Related: Trump administration cuts thousands of HHS jobs, including CDC disease investigators
