Trump administration announces Susan Monarez is no longer CDC director

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) on Wednesday announced that Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Susan Monarez is no longer in the role, less than a month after she was sworn in.

Monarez was confirmed to the role in a party-line Senate vote in late July but had been serving as the agency's acting head since January. HHS did not give a reason for Monarez's departure and no interim replacement has yet been named.

"Susan Monarez is no longer director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention," HHS posted on X. "We thank her for her dedicated service to the American people. [HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.] has full confidence in his team at the CDC who will continue to be vigilant in protecting Americans against infectious diseases at home and abroad."

Although no reason for her exit has been formally given, it comes the day after Kennedy said his department is on track to release a report in September on identifying "interventions" that are "clearly almost certainly causing autism."

Monarez, who has a PhD in microbiology and immunology, told the Senate during her confirmation hearing that she has not seen a "casual link between vaccines and autism," and that vaccines "absolutely save lives," according to CBS News.

"If I'm confirmed as CDC director, I commit to making sure we continue to prioritize vaccine availability," Monarez said.

Misty Severi is a news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.