Fired Cdc Chief Susan Monarez Refuses To Step Down, Defying White House

A stand-off complete nan firing of nan Susan Monarez, head of nan US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has deepened, pinch Monarez’s lawyers claiming she will not depart unless nan president himself removes her.

Monarez, an infectious illness master who was confirmed arsenic CDC main conscionable a period ago, was fired connected Wednesday, according to a connection from nan Department of Health and Human Services, which gave nary logic for nan departure.

However, nan apparently ousted head has refused to beryllium removed. Her lawyers declare that while nan White House has said that she is “not aligned pinch nan president’s agenda”, only Donald Trump himself tin disregard her.

“As a statesmanlike appointee, legislature confirmed officer, only nan president himself tin occurrence her,” Monarez’s lawyer Mark Zaid posted connected BlueSky.

“For this reason, we cull notification Dr. Monarez has received arsenic legally deficient and she remains arsenic CDC Director. We person notified nan White House Counsel of our position.”

A spokesperson for Trump, Kush Desai, told nan New York Times that Monarez was “not aligned pinch nan President’s schedule of Making America Healthy Again”, and “the White House has terminated Monarez from her position pinch nan C.D.C.”

The determination to region Monarez has sparked further turmoil wrong nan CDC, pinch 4 of its different elder leaders besides resigning complete what they condemned arsenic governmental interference successful their work, fund cuts and nan dispersed of misinformation nether nan Trump administration.

The CDC is yet overseen by Robert F Kennedy Jr, nan US wellness caput who is known for founding an anti-vaccine group and successful his existent domiciled has trim backing for aesculapian research, removed technological advisers and connected Wednesday restricted nan usage of Covid vaccines for Americans.

“First it was independent advisory committees and profession experts. Then it was nan dismissal of seasoned scientists. Now, Secretary Kennedy and HHS person group their sights connected weaponizing nationalist wellness for governmental summation and putting millions of American lives astatine risk,” Monarez’s lawyers said successful a statement.

“When CDC Director Susan Monarez refused to rubber-stamp unscientific, reckless directives and occurrence dedicated wellness experts, she chose protecting nan nationalist complete serving a governmental agenda. For that, she has been targeted.”

Monarez and Kennedy fought complete vaccine policy, while CDC leaders were angry and upset complete really nan management handled a deadly business earlier this period erstwhile a gunman fired upon nan agency’s office successful Atlanta, sidesplitting a constabulary officer, according to nan New York Times.

The 4 elder officials to resign from nan CDC are Debra Houry, nan main aesculapian officer; Daniel Jernigan, nan vaccine information chief; Jennifer Layden, caput of nan agency for nationalist wellness data; and Demetre Daskalakis, who ran nan agency that issues vaccine recommendations.