Former CDC chief to testify Kennedy pressured her to endorse vaccine guidance without proof
Fired CDC director Susan Monarez is set to tell senators that Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. pressured her to approve new vaccine recommendations before reviewing the scientific evidence, according to a copy of her prepared testimony for Wednesday’s Senate hearing.
In the remarks obtained by The Associated Press, Monarez will say Kennedy gave her an ultimatum: either “preapprove” recommendations from a controversial CDC advisory panel he assembled—containing some experts skeptical of vaccine safety—or be fired. That panel is scheduled to vote on the recommendations later this week. Monarez, originally appointed by Kennedy and nominated by former President Donald Trump, was dismissed just weeks into her tenure over disagreements regarding vaccine policies.
“Even under pressure, I could not replace evidence with ideology or compromise my integrity,” Monarez will state in her opening remarks. “Vaccine policy must be guided by credible data, not predetermined outcomes.” She said she was “fired for holding the line on scientific integrity” and also noted that Kennedy instructed her to dismiss several high-ranking CDC officials without cause.
The hearing will examine the effects of internal turmoil at the CDC, which oversees public vaccine guidance, and will give Monarez, along with former Chief Medical Officer Debra Houry, a chance to respond to Kennedy’s claims about their final days at the agency. Kennedy has denied that he sought “rubber-stamped” vaccine approvals and claimed Monarez admitted to being “untrustworthy,” a claim her attorney has rejected. However, he acknowledged during a recent Senate hearing that he did order the firing of several top CDC officials.
The hearing comes a day before the advisory panel meets in Atlanta to discuss vaccines for COVID-19, hepatitis B, and chickenpox. The panel’s recommendations, which include debate over newborn hepatitis B shots and limits on COVID-19 vaccines, require CDC director approval before becoming official. Acting CDC director and HHS Deputy Secretary Jim O’Neill will be responsible for endorsing them.
Monarez and Houry are expected to face tough questions from Republicans on CDC vaccine guidance and COVID-19 policies, while Democrats are likely to probe Kennedy’s approach. The hearing will be led by Republican Sen. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, who has called for oversight of the CDC amid “serious allegations” but has not blamed Kennedy directly.
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