Techdirt [Unofficial]California Brings Former CDC Staff On To Do The Work RFK Jr. Refuses To Do Nationally
Somebody’s Lying: Susan Monarez’s Congressional Testimony Is 180 Degrees From RFK Jr.’s
PrivacyDigestFired #CDC Director Says #RFK Jr. Pressured Her to Blindly Approve #Vaccine Changes
#SusanMonarez told a #Senate committee that Robert F. Kennedy Jr. demanded she dismiss career officials without cause—and accept vaccine recommendations regardless of whether #science backed them up.
#health
https://www.wired.com/story/susan-monarez-fired-cdc-director-senate-testimony/
DrWeb5 takeways on RFK Jr. and vaccine policy from former CDC director’s Senate testimony – The Washington Post
Health Health Care Medical Mysteries Science Well+Being
Takeaways from fired CDC director’s Senate testimony
Susan Monarez told the Senate health committee that Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. pressured her to back changes to the childhood vaccine schedule.
Updated, September 17, 2025 at 3:05 p.m. EDT, 57 minutes ago, 9 min
Key moments from ex-CDC chief’s Senate testimony
2:14 — Senators pressed former CDC Director Susan Monarez on Sept. 17 about her dismissal under HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (Video: The Washington Post, Photo: Marvin Joseph / The Washington Post)By Rachel Roubein, Dan Diamond and Mariana Alfaro
Susan Monarez, who was fired last month as director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, told senators Wednesday that Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. pressured her to support changes to the childhood vaccine schedule, subverting the agency’s scientific expertise and endangering public health.
The former CDC chief who served in the position for only 29 days, told the Senate’s health committee that Kennedy told her that “he spoke to the president every day about changing the childhood vaccine schedule” and that she “needed to be on board” with coming changes in September. The recommendations from the CDC call for administering multiple vaccines at key milestones, and potential changes to the schedule have alarmed major medical associations who worry the nation’s vaccine infrastructure may crack.
Monarez’s testimony on Capitol Hill marks her first public appearance since the White House fired her in late August. She told the panel she was fired for “holding the line on scientific integrity,” citing concerns about her ability to continue leading the agency while “preserving evidence-based decision-making.”
Throughout the hearing, some senators critical of Kennedy, who has an extensive history of anti-vaccine advocacy, sought to highlight what they believe is at stake: the potential for infectious diseases to reemerge and erosion of trust in public health.Some Republican senators allied with Kennedy pressed Monarez on the details of her meetings with Kennedy, casting her as out of step with the Trump administration and suggesting she was not trustworthy.
Editor’s Note: Read the rest of the story, at the below link.
Continue/Read Original Article Here: 5 takeways on RFK Jr. and vaccine policy from former CDC director’s Senate testimony – The Washington Post
#2025 #America #CDC #CentersForDiseaseControlAndPrevention #DonaldTrump #FormerDirectorCDC #HealthAndHumanServices #History #JFKJr #JohnFKennedyJr #Libraries #LibraryOfCongress #Politics #Science #SusanMonarez #Trump #USSenate #UnitedStates
six_grandfathers_mountain"I could have kept the office, the title, but I would have lost the one thing that cannot be replaced.
My Integrity" #SusanMonarez
Nicolle Wallace (and MollyJong Fast) on Deadline White House #MSNBC Wed Sep 17 2025
Former #CDC Susan Monarez fired by #HHS #RFKjr speaking out about what she saw on the job as a result of the takeover of HHS and the consequences that exist having him in that role.
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@augieray
RE
I am NOT a #healthexpert
You have what Monarez has, integrity
"I could have kept the office, the title, but I would have lost the one thing that cannot be replaced. My Integrity"
Susan Monarez
#NicolleWallace (and #MollyJongFast) on Deadline White House #MSNBC Wed Sep 17 2025
Former #CDC #SusanMonarez fired by #HHS #RFKjr speaking out about what she saw on the job as a result of the takeover of HHS and the consequences that exist having him in that role.
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NonilexDr. #SusanMonarez fmr #CDC chief described the tense meeting with #RFKJr that led to her firing.
Kennedy hurled insults about employees of the CDC, called the CDC, which he oversees, “the most corrupt federal agency in the world” & told her that “CDC employees were killing children.”
#PublicHealth #science #medicine #vaccines #Trump #ConspiracyTheories #disinformation #eugenics #HealthyIfYoureWealthy
#Democrat Sen #Alsobrooks of Maryland gave Dr. #SusanMonarez a chance to speak directly to parents. “#Vaccines are safe,” she responded. “They’re life saving, & I would encourage any parent who is concerned about whether or not their child should get a #vaccine to talk to their #pediatrician, to understand the benefits of these life saving medical products & to make the best decision that they can to make sure that their #children remain #healthy & happy, & can go to school & be safe.”
Mastodon MigrationFYI, @Nonilex is live posting the
Dr. #SusanMonarez hearing starting here:
Nonilex (@[email protected])
During the hearing, Democrats & Republicans are looking for any new light on the events surrounding firing of the #CDC’s Dr. #SusanMonarez, & on the efforts of #RFKJr to put his stamp on the country’s #vaccine policies. But she opened with a warning for senators: “I want to be clear. Today should not be about me. Today should be about the future of trust in #PublicHealth.”
#Sycophants: 2 #Senate #Republicans sought to imply that Dr. #SusanMonarez had coordinated with “anti-Trump lawyers.” “Did you plan to coordinate this public spectacle surrounding your firing?” [she didn’t call the hearing FFS]. Senator #AshleyMoody asked, noting that Monarez called Senator Cassidy, the cmte’s chair, after #RFKJr attempted to push her out at the #CDC Monarez denied having such a plan.
#PublicHealth #Trump #ConspiracyTheories #disinformation #eugenics #HealthyIfYoureWealthy