Why ouster of US Centers for Disease Control chief, weeks into the job, is symbolic of larger troubles

In a post on X from March, Kennedy had defended choosing Monarez for the post to some supporters of his MAHA movement, which stands for “Make America Healthy Again” (inspired by Donald Trump’s “Make America Great Again” or MAGA).

He wrote, “I handpicked Susan for this job because she is a longtime champion of MAHA values, and a caring, compassionate and brilliant microbiologist and a tech wizard who will reorient CDC toward public health and gold-standard science.”

Four other senior medical officials have also resigned of late because of disagreements between scientists and RFK Jr on fundamental health policy issues, like providing vaccines to pregnant women. Here is what to know.

Who is Susan Monarez?

Monarez, 50, is officially tasked with leading the agency “in protecting the public’s health through disease prevention, emergency response, and scientific research, while advising top U.S. officials on health policy.”

She previously worked at the research funding government agency Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H), and “led high-impact initiatives focusing on the ethical use of artificial intelligence and machine learning to support improved health outcomes.” She was also at the White House in the Office of Science and Technology Policy and on the National Security Council.

It’s unclear why the removal happened suddenly, but on Wednesday, White House spokesman Kush Desai said Monarez was not “aligned with the President’s agenda of Making America Healthy Again”. She agreed to resign but later refused to do so formally, resulting in the sacking, he added.

During her confirmation hearing for the position a few months ago, she said she had not seen evidence linking vaccines and autism, which is a disorder that can impact how a person socialises and perceives the world. Crucially, adequate care can help improve autistic people’s quality of life.

Unlike Monarez, the MAHA movement has often termed autism as an inherently bad outcome of young children being needlessly given a large number of shots. However, there is no scientific evidence linking vaccines with autism. And yet, opposition to vaccines has gained currency in many parts of the US in recent years.

Who else has resigned of late?

CDC Chief Medical Officer Debra Houry and National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases Director Demetre Daskalakis have resigned, Houry told Reuters. “They cited a rise in health misinformation especially on vaccines, attacks on science, the weaponization of public health, and attempts to cut the agency’s budget and influence in their resignation letters,” Reuters reported.

“Recently, the overstating of risks and the rise of misinformation have cost lives, as demonstrated by the highest number of U.S. measles cases in 30 years and the violent attack on our agency,” Houry wrote in her resignation.

According to the Associated Press, Daskalakis wrote that changes under the new administration put “people of dubious intent and more dubious scientific rigor in charge of recommending vaccine policy.” He described Monarez as “hamstrung and sidelined by an authoritarian leader.” He added, “Their desire to please a political base will result in death and disability of vulnerable children and adults.”

National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases Director Daniel Jernigan also stepped down, days after the agency reported the first US human case of screwworm linked to an ongoing outbreak in Central America. Jen Layden, Director of the CDC Office of Public Health Data, Surveillance and Technology, has also resigned, NBC News reported.

In another notable incident, the CDC’s Atlanta headquarters saw a shooting incident earlier this month. The shooter reportedly fired 180 shots at the building as a result of believing Covid-19 vaccine-related disinformation. He shot at and killed a police officer and then died by suicide.

How has RFK Jr shaped public health since his appointment?

Among other things, RFK Jr has changed vaccine policies, withdrawing federal recommendations for Covid-19 vaccines for pregnant women and healthy children in May. He also replaced the CDC’s expert vaccine advisory panel and installed his own advisors, including people who were sceptical of vaccines’ efficacy. He additionally ordered cuts to health agencies’ budgets and fired hundreds of employees.

Alongside his rise to fame in recent years, including his bid for the 2024 US Presidential elections, his theories on health and nutrition have become popular. RFK Jr has promised to overhaul the sectors and hold big corporations accountable for practices such as manufacturing processed foods.

He has received support on the matter not only from Republicans, but also from Democrats and apolitical Americans. At the same time, he has come under considerable criticism for disregarding established scientific norms and spreading conspiracy theories.

(With AP, Reuters inputs)