The Wednesday affirmation listening to for President Donald Trump’s choose for the director of Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention, Dr. Susan Monarez, included moments the place she shared her stances on a number of main public well being points, which — whereas not controversial for CDC leaders up to now — probably put her at odds along with her boss, Well being and Human Companies Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., ought to she be confirmed.
Initially of the listening to, Monarez was clear in her assist for vaccines — a subject the place Kennedy has expressed some skepticism.
“I believe vaccines save lives. I believe that we have to proceed to assist the promotion of utilization of vaccines,” Monarez mentioned.
Her feedback got here as she was requested by Unbiased Sen. Bernie Sanders a few current resolution reported by POLITICO that Kennedy has determined to finish U.S. funding for a world vaccine alliance, Gavi.
“I wasn’t concerned in that call making. If I am confirmed as a CDC director, I’ll definitely look into it, and I am pleased to observe up with you,” Monarez mentioned.
Susan Monarez, nominee to be the Director of the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention testifies throughout her affirmation listening to earlier than the Senate Committee on Well being, Training, Labor, and Pensions, June 25, 2025 in Washington.
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Kennedy has lengthy held many vaccine-skeptic views, refuted by consultants and high-quality research, lengthy earlier than he joined the administration, however he has insisted he’s not “anti-vaccine” and fairly “pro-safety.”
Monarez additionally stood aside from Kennedy on her views on autism, and whether or not there may be any hyperlink between the neurological dysfunction and childhood vaccinations — which Kennedy has lengthy raised as a possible purpose for rising charges of autism diagnoses.
“I’ve not seen a causal hyperlink between vaccines and autism,” Monarez mentioned, requested by Sanders if she agrees with the American Medical Affiliation’s stance “that there isn’t any scientific confirmed hyperlink between vaccines and autism.”
Susan Monarez, nominee to be the Director of the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention testifies throughout her affirmation listening to earlier than the Senate Committee on Well being, Training, Labor, and Pensions, June 25, 2025 in Washington.
Kayla Bartkowski/Getty Pictures
Kennedy, in his personal affirmation listening to, refused to acknowledge that there’s not a hyperlink between vaccines and autism, inflicting him to just about lose the important thing vote of Sen. Invoice Cassidy, a Republican and a health care provider.
Kennedy has since launched a significant effort at NIH to look into the causes of rising autism diagnoses.
The parable that vaccines trigger autism was born out of a fraudulent 1998 examine, hypothesizing that the measles, mumps, rubella vaccine triggered intestinal irritation, which, in flip, led to the event of autism.
The paper has since been discredited by well being consultants, retracted from the journal through which it was printed, and its main writer, Andrew Wakefield, misplaced his medical license after an investigation discovered he had acted “dishonestly and irresponsibly” in conducting his analysis.
Greater than a dozen high-quality research have since discovered no proof of a hyperlink between childhood vaccines and autism.
Requested if she believed the fluoridated water in her Maryland city was protected, as Kennedy continues on a path to remove fluoride from water systems nationwide, she mentioned: “I imagine the water in Potomac, Maryland, is protected.”
Additionally, when requested if she holds any prejudice towards mRNA vaccine know-how, which Kennedy has disparaged, she mentioned: “I’ve no prejudice towards mRNA platform or every other strategy that’s being taken to develop vaccines.”
Monarez has served in quite a lot of main authorities public well being roles beneath a number of presidents on either side of the aisle. She has spent practically 20 years centered on know-how and public well being, together with main a middle created by former President Joe Biden to develop groundbreaking most cancers remedy.
Susan Monarez, nominee to be the Director of the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention testifies throughout her affirmation listening to earlier than the Senate Committee on Well being, Training, Labor, and Pensions, June 25, 2025 in Washington.
Kayla Bartkowski/Getty Pictures
However on Wednesday, Monarez appeared to stroll a wonderful line — supporting her future boss, Kennedy, whereas additionally answering to Democrats who pushed her to denounce actions which have been controversial within the public well being sphere, together with adjustments to the CDC’s vaccine advisory panel, also called ACIP.
Earlier this month, Kennedy removed all 17 sitting members of the CDC’s vaccine advisory committee and changed them with new members. The transfer has been controversial, with some experts saying it makes the U.S. “much less ready for infectious illness threats.”
Democratic Sen. Patty Murray pressed Monarez on whether or not she would observe the group’s suggestions if it proposed “remov[ing] vaccines from the vaccine schedule” or not approving new vaccines “in opposition to clear, established science.”
Monarez replied that she “can be an lively listener” throughout ACIP conferences and would “be taking a look at how the ACIP members are in a position to consider this complicated scientific info and statistical evaluation that goes into the risk-benefit.”
Democratic Sen. Maggie Hassan requested Monarez if there have been any areas the place she disagreed with Kennedy. Monarez did not reply with any particular points, however described herself as an “unbiased thinker,” which she mentioned Kennedy values.
Hassan pushed again: “When the secretary mentioned it is very, very difficult for measles to kill a healthy person — no considerations from you about that?”
Monarez responded that measles may be deadly in a single in 1,000 individuals — however Hassan reduce her off, including, “Proper, which is why your with the ability to independently state in public that you just differ with the secretary is a very, actually vital factor, and proper now you are exhibiting an actual reluctance to do that.”
Trump tapped Monarez to steer the CDC in March after the administration withdrew Trump’s other pick, Dr. David Weldon, to move the company citing the truth that he didn’t have the votes wanted to be confirmed.
Monarez served because the performing CDC director from January till March — when she left the submit as a result of she was nominated to be director.
She has expertise in each the private and non-private sector — together with working within the authorities beneath former presidents George W. Bush, Barack Obama, Trump’s first time period and Biden. Her work has included methods to fight antimicrobial resistance, too.
