The Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) voted on Wednesday to move forward with Susan Monarez’s nomination as director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The vote was split along party lines, with a 12-11 decision. Monarez is the first CDC director nominee to undergo Senate confirmation following a new law passed in 2022.
If confirmed, Monarez will make history as the first CDC director without a medical degree since 1953. Ahead of the vote, Senator Bernie Sanders expressed concerns about Monarez’s alleged association with Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., accusing them of spreading misinformation about vaccines. Sanders emphasized the need for a CDC director who upholds science and prioritizes public health.
Monarez, who previously served as the acting CDC director, has a background in both the public and private sectors, including experience under multiple presidential administrations. During her confirmation hearing, Monarez voiced support for vaccines and emphasized the importance of promoting their use. In contrast to Kennedy’s skepticism towards vaccines, Monarez stated that she does not see a causal link between vaccines and autism.
The CDC director position has been vacant, allowing Kennedy to influence some CDC decisions, such as altering vaccine recommendations. Kennedy also made changes to the CDC’s Advisory Committee of Immunization Practices (ACIP), replacing members with individuals who hold vaccine-skeptic views. This move has raised concerns among public health professionals, who noted that traditionally only a CDC director would have the authority to reconstitute the ACIP panel.
