Trump’s pick for US CDC director resigns after weeks in role, flood of top resignations follow

Apart from Susan, three other top health officials also resigned from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, including CDC Chief Medical Officer Debra Houry and National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases Director Demetre Daskalakis, Reuters reported.

Susan Monarez is no longer director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. We thank her for her dedicated service to the American people. @SecKennedy has full confidence in his team at @CDCgov who will continue to be vigilant in protecting Americans against infectious…

— HHS.gov (@HHSGov) August 27, 2025

Trump nominated Susan, who has been a long time federal government scientist, after his first choice former Republican congressman Dave Weldon came under fire over his views on vaccines and autism and the president had to withdraw his first pick.

Another top level exit at the CDC includes National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases Director Daniel Jernigan, days after the health agency reported the first US human case of screwworm.

In the resignation letter, Respiratory Disease director Daskalakis wrote “I am not able to serve in this role any longer because of the ongoing weaponizing of public health.” It remains whether the three senior level resignations at the CDC are linked to Susan’s ouster or not.

The health department in its X post added that US Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr “has full confidence” in the CDC team, “who will continue to be vigilant in protecting Americans against infectious diseases at home and abroad.”

Susan’s departure from the CDC follows a shootout at the health agency’s headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia this month.