Former Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Susan Monarez, ousted just weeks into her tenure by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., is testifying Wednesday before the Senate Health Committee.
She was ousted from her job last month after Kennedy pressured her to pre-approve vaccine recommendations from a newly restructured advisory panel aligned with Kennedy’s views. Earlier this month, Kennedy testified before the Senate Finance Committee that he removed Monarez because she told him she wasn’t “trustworthy.”
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In meetings Monarez had with RFK Jr. about federal vaccine policy, she told Sen. Maggie Hassan, D-NH, "he was very upset and extremely animated toward me."
He also did not express condolences about Officer David Rose, who was killed when a gunman shot at the CDC last month, Monarez said.
Marshall said that if Monarez doesn’t align philosophically with the Trump administration, she shouldn’t be the CDC’s director.
“I think the CDC is the cause of vaccine hesitancy,” he said. “You are the problem.”
While a member of the U.S. House, Marshall criticized CDC COVID-19 data during the 2020 pandemic and was accused of spreading misinformation.
During the first hour of testimony before the Senate Health Committee, Monarez laid out her recollection of how her job ended.
Monarez said Kennedy fired her for "holding the line on scientific integrity."
Democrats and some Republicans shared their alarm about the state of public health policy in the country under President Donald Trump.
However other, more Trump-aligned Republicans questioned Monarez's version of events. "You're not the right person for this job," said Sen. Roger Marshall, R-Kansas.
Stay with AJC.com as testimony continues.
"You're not the right person for this job," said Sen. Roger Marshall, R-Kansas. The fact that Monarez believes parents should talk to their children's pediatricians about vaccines is a "different mindset than Secretary Kennedy's."
Monarez said, "I will stand behind scientific integrity."
Following Marshall's questions, the committee adjourned for 15 minutes so senators can go to the floor for a vote.
Monarez told Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, that allowing public health decisions to be made by political figures is concerning.
"These are very important, highly technical discussions that have lifesaving implications for our children and others who need vaccines," Collins said.
When those who don't have the proper skill set sign off on decisions without the best available data and evidence, "it puts at risk our children and it takes us to a very dangerous place in public health," she said.
Monarez and Houry said they were nervous about what recommendations the CDC's vaccine advisory committee might make at their Thursday meeting.
"I haven't prejudged," Monarez said. "I don't know what will happen, but I certainly will be watching."
Sen. Rand Paul, a Republican from Kentucky, questioned the kinds of scientists Monarez said she was asked to fire.
"You resisted firing people who are saying that we have to vaccinate our kids at 6 months of age. That's who you refused to fire," he said.
Kennedy has said he never told Monarez that she had to preapprove the recommendations and called her a "liar."
When asked if she is a liar by Sen. Bernie Sanders, D-Vermont, Monarez said "that is not accurate."
Monarez said that she would be open to changing childhood vaccine schedules if Kennedy could present science or data, but Kennedy never presented any.
She said Kennedy told her the CDC never collected any data regarding the childhood vaccine schedule.
Monarez said RFK Jr. had spoken to President Donald Trump about his positions on vaccines and her tenure.