Ousted CDC director to testify before Senate after RFK Jr. called her a liar

Susan Monarez, who was recently removed from her position as the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), is preparing to testify before the Senate next week. Her testimony will delve into the circumstances surrounding her unexpected dismissal and the current turmoil at the agency, particularly under the leadership of health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a known anti-vaccine advocate. In a heated Senate Finance Committee hearing last Thursday, Kennedy labeled Monarez a liar and claimed she was fired after he asked her whether she was trustworthy, to which she allegedly replied 'no.' This assertion raised eyebrows among senators, with Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) humorously suggesting that such a question should have been posed before Monarez was confirmed for her role. In an op-ed featured in The Wall Street Journal, Monarez provided a contrasting narrative regarding her ousting. She stated that her removal was a result of her refusal to comply with Kennedy’s orders to terminate senior CDC personnel and to pre-approve vaccine recommendations from a committee that he had filled with anti-vaccine supporters. Next week’s hearing will take place before the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, led by Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.). Alongside Monarez, the committee will also hear from Debra Houry, the former chief medical officer for the CDC, who resigned in solidarity with Monarez, along with two other senior officials. This crucial hearing is scheduled for Wednesday, September 17, at 10:00 am ET.