Susan Monarez, Trump’s nominee for CDC director, faces an unprecedented and tumultuous era at the agency
The ConversationMAR 31
Senate Confirms Susan Monarez as CDC Director
Above: Susan Monarez on June 25, 2025, in Washington, DC. Image copyright: Kayla Bartkowski/Getty Images
The Spin
Republican narrative
Monarez brings essential scientific expertise to restore CDC credibility after years of pandemic missteps. Her decades of government experience across multiple agencies and PhD in microbiology make her uniquely qualified to modernize the agency's data systems and strengthen disease preparedness. The budget cuts will help refocus CDC on its core mission of infectious disease prevention.
Democratic narrative
The confirmation represents a troubling capitulation to Kennedy's anti-vaccine agenda. Monarez's refusal to challenge Kennedy's dangerous conspiracy theories about vaccines during her hearing shows she lacks the independence needed to defend scientific evidence. The staff cuts and budget slashes will cripple the agency's ability to protect Americans from disease outbreaks.