Washington, D.C. — August 28, 2025
The Biden administration has dismissed Susan Monarez, the long-serving head of the U.S. federal health agency, after a series of high-profile clashes with Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a well-known vaccine skeptic.
According to a statement issued by Monarez’s legal team to AFP, she had “refused to act as a rubber stamp for irresponsible directives or to dismiss dedicated experts from their posts.” Monarez had earlier rejected calls to resign, underscoring her resistance to political interference.
Her dismissal has already triggered a wave of resignations inside the agency. Five senior officials at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) tendered their resignations in protest, deepening concerns about institutional stability and public trust in U.S. health governance.
The upheaval highlights the widening rift between the scientific establishment and Kennedy, whose appointment has unsettled many in Washington and abroad. Observers warn that the shake-up could undermine the CDC’s ability to provide independent guidance on public health policy at a time when global cooperation remains crucial.
