Susan Monarez upholds her integrity in the face of political influence
Susan Monarez’s tenure as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) director lasted only 29 days. Some are calling her a “quiet hero” for it. Nominated by President Trump in March and sworn in by July, Monarez previously served as the deputy director of the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Despite her extensive background in medical science, Monarez’s stint as CDC chief was short-lived. In her September testimony before the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, she claimed she was fired for resisting political influence regarding the agency’s decisions. Her refusal to compromise her integrity exemplifies courage and resistance in present-day politics under the Trump Administration.
In her testimony, Monarez documented the drastic demands made by HHS Secretary Robert Kennedy Jr. for her to keep her position. As Monarez claims, Kennedy asked her in August to approve all Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices’ recommendations and to fire all vaccine policy officials before reviewing scientific data. He then stated that if she was “unwilling to do both,” she “should resign.” His request directly politicized science and demonstrated that Kennedy’s actions weren’t in the interest of public safety but rather for his own political gain. President Trump has granted Kennedy power in his cabinet, and, in turn, Kennedy has supported Trump’s political beliefs, even if they are scientifically incorrect. During the pandemic, Kennedy claimed the Covid-19 vaccine was dangerous, despite scientific evidence from medical professionals proving its efficacy. As HHS Secretary, Kennedy plans to cancel $500 million in funding for mRNA vaccines. Yet, Kennedy consistently claims that he is not anti-vaccine, stating in an interview, “I’m called [anti-vaccine] because it’s a way of silencing me.” He wants to make vaccines safer; however, limiting vaccine access would do the opposite, running contrary to scientific evidence and putting lives at risk. According to the National Library of Medicine, the Covid-19 vaccine saved an estimated 14.4 million lives. That was made possible by the significant funding and interest in vaccine development at the time. With these resources gone, the ability to protect the nation from future public health crises disintegrates. Kennedy wanted Monarez to commit to approving such anti-vaccine policies. Monarez, testifying that “I was fired for holding the line on scientific integrity,” believes that her refusal to comply with Kennedy’s ideology-based, anti-science policy was the reason for her removal.
The HHS has pushed back on Monarez’s claims, publishing a statement that her testimony contained “factual inaccuracies and left out important details.” However, Kennedy himself has a long history of inaccuracies. During a September hearing, he incorrectly claimed, “anybody can get the [Covid] booster,” despite recent FDA policies that have limited Covid shots to exclusively those at risk of serious complications. The differences in the accounts of Kennedy and Monarez invite speculation about their respective legitimacy. However, the discrepancy may also be another one of Kennedy’s inconsistencies.
Despite the opportunity to maintain her title and political status, Susan Monarez decided to protect the American people. In America’s current political climate, where universities comply with political demands to preserve funding and TV networks refuse to air those “too outspoken” against Trump, what Monarez did is rare. The United States needs more people willing to do what is right, even under political pressure.
