A brain worm's vision for public health

[Maphistos_Sidekick]

NYT gift link: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/27/health/cdc-monarez-kennedy-vaccines.html?unlocked_article_code=1.hk8.jbmr.WIgGB684IJid&smid=url-share

The director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is refusing to leave her post, despite demands from Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. that she quit or be fired, according to her lawyers and an administration official familiar with the events.

The clash between Mr. Kennedy and Susan Monarez, who was sworn in as C.D.C. director just one month ago, burst into public view on Wednesday as four other high-ranking C.D.C. officials quit en masse, apparently in frustration over vaccine policy and Mr. Kennedy’s leadership.

The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of retribution, said Mr. Kennedy summoned Dr. Monarez to his office on Monday and demanded that she resign. When she refused, Mr. Kennedy demanded that she remove the agency’s top leadership by the end of the week.

Dr. Monarez then called Senator Bill Cassidy, the Republican chairman of the Senate health committee, who in turn called Mr. Kennedy, according to the official. Mr. Kennedy, furious, summoned Dr. Monarez to a second meeting on Tuesday and accused her of “being a leaker,” according to the official, and told her she would be fired

The official said Dr. Monarez spoke to other senators as well. On Wednesday, a White House official told Dr. Monarez that if she did not resign by the end of the day, President Trump would terminate her.

The four high-ranking agency officials who did resign are Dr. Debra Houry, the C.D.C.’s chief medical officer; Dr. Demetre Daskalakis, who ran the center that issues vaccine recommendations; Dr. Daniel Jernigan, who oversaw the center that oversees vaccine safety; and Dr. Jennifer Layden, head of the office of public health data.

EDIT: I was Ninja’d. Political Stuff That Doesn't Fit In Other Threads But Aren't Worth Starting A New Thread For - #122 by Hip_tiger