Susan Monarez, the newly appointed director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, was forced out Wednesday after just weeks in the job, following a tense standoff with Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. over the administration’s shifting coronavirus vaccine policy, according to multiple officials who confirmed her departure with The Washington Post.

Monarez, a longtime government scientist nominated by President Donald Trump and confirmed by the Senate in July, resisted pressure from Kennedy and administration lawyers to endorse rolling back federal approvals for certain COVID-19 vaccines without first consulting her advisers, people briefed on the conversations said. Her reluctance drew the ire of Kennedy, who urged her to resign for “not supporting President Trump’s agenda,” one official said.

Monarez initially refused and sought support from Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.), the Senate health committee chair who played a pivotal role in her confirmation after extracting assurances about protecting vaccine access. Cassidy privately pushed back on Kennedy’s demands, according to three people familiar with the discussions, escalating tensions inside the administration. Kennedy grew more frustrated after learning Monarez had turned to the senator, and administration officials ultimately gave her an ultimatum: resign or be fired.

By Wednesday evening, HHS confirmed in a post on X that Monarez was no longer leading the CDC. “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 diseases at home and abroad,” the agency wrote.

Public health advocates had viewed Monarez as a potential counterweight to Kennedy, who founded an anti-vaccine group before taking office and has long been a controversial figure for his claims about vaccine safety. Kennedy has denied being anti-vaccine, telling senators during his confirmation hearings earlier this year that he was only seeking additional evidence on effectiveness. Still, critics feared his influence could limit vaccine access, concerns that intensified Wednesday when the CDC announced it had signed off on updated coronavirus vaccines but restricted eligibility to seniors and people with health risks, a sharp break from previous recommendations that all Americans six months and older receive annual shots.

The White House declined to comment on Monarez’s departure. Cassidy’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Trump nominated Monarez after withdrawing his original choice, former Rep. Dave Weldon (R-Fla.), who faced criticism for linking vaccines to autism. During her confirmation hearings, Monarez emphasized her belief in rigorous scientific evidence and the importance of vaccines in protecting public health.

Her ouster comes as the Trump administration continues to question federal vaccine data and dismantle prior recommendations. The CDC is expected to issue new guidance soon on who should receive coronavirus shots, a decision that could affect tens of millions of Americans.

The agency has already been under strain following an Aug. 8 shooting at its Atlanta headquarters, when a gunman angry over the coronavirus vaccine opened fire, killing a police officer and forcing hundreds of employees into lockdown.

Monarez’s abrupt exit adds her to a growing list of Trump administration officials with short-lived tenures. The White House recently reassigned IRS Commissioner Billy Long after disputes over immigrant data access, and Trump replaced national security adviser Michael Waltz after a misstep involving a journalist and sensitive military information.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)