"For several hours on Wednesday, a fired public health official went before Congress and aired Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s dirty laundry. Former Centers for Disease Control director Susan Monarez laid into the Health and Human Services secretary's management of vaccines, his disregarding of career experts, and his plans for remaking public health according to his own bullheaded vision. Monarez, who was fired as CDC director only 29 days after her confirmation to the post, also gave her account of why she was fired."
"Her explanation departed significantly from Kennedy's; he testified earlier this month that Monarez had responded "no" when asked if she was a "trustworthy person." Instead, she said, Kennedy told her that he couldn't trust her. "If you cannot trust me," Monarez said, "then you can fire me." It was a remarkable display of discord of within the administration. Even more shocking, though, was that it was taking place at all."
Susan Monarez, fired 29 days after confirmation as CDC director, testified before Congress and sharply criticized Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s handling of vaccines, his disregard for career experts, and his plans to remake public health according to his own vision. Monarez said Kennedy told her he could not trust her and that she could be fired for that reason. Kennedy earlier testified that Monarez had answered "no" when asked if she was a "trustworthy person." The episode occurred amid a wider pattern of high-level personnel ousters across the federal government since Jan. 20, 2025.
Read at Slate Magazine
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