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The Department of Health and Human Services announced Wednesday that Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Susan Monarez has left the role, less than a month after being confirmed by the Senate.
Monarez, who had served as acting director since January, was confirmed in late July in a party-line vote. HHS did not provide a reason for her departure, and no interim leader has been named.
“Susan Monarez is no longer director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,” the department 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,” the statement continued.
Monarez, 50, was confirmed in a 51-47 vote. She becomes the first CDC director to be confirmed by the Senate, a requirement established under a 2023 law aimed at increasing oversight of major federal health appointments.
Monarez had been serving as acting director since January, following the abrupt withdrawal of President Donald Trump’s original nominee, David Weldon. Her nomination was announced in March amid rising tension within the CDC, which has faced major staffing cuts, high-level resignations and ongoing controversy over revised vaccination policies.
Her exit comes one day after Kennedy said his agency is preparing to release a September report on “interventions” that he claimed are “clearly almost certainly causing autism.”
Monarez holds a doctorate in microbiology and immunology from the University of Wisconsin and completed postdoctoral research at Stanford University. She built her reputation in federal service through senior roles in health technology, national security, and biosecurity policy, including work at the Department of Defense and the Office of Science and Technology Policy.
During her Senate confirmation hearing, Monarez, who holds a doctorate in microbiology and immunology, told lawmakers she had not seen evidence of a “casual link between vaccines and autism,” and affirmed her support for immunizations.
“Vaccines absolutely save lives,” she said. “If I’m confirmed as CDC director, I commit to making sure we continue to prioritize vaccine availability.”