Trump chooses CDC acting director Morales as director.

The White House announced on Monday (March 24th) that President Trump will nominate Susan Monarez to lead the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Currently serving as the acting director, Monarez is a highly qualified candidate with a Ph.D. in microbiology and immunology. She has been a government employee since 2006 and possesses 20 years of experience in various government agencies, including the Department of Homeland Security and the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. Monarez has also served as the Deputy Director of the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health, an agency that focuses on transformative biomedical and health breakthroughs.

If confirmed by the Senate, Monarez will continue to lead the CDC in addressing public health threats such as measles outbreaks and avian influenza. The measles outbreak in western Texas and New Mexico has escalated, resulting in two deaths. The CDC, headquartered in Atlanta, is tasked with tracking and responding to domestic and global public health threats. With an annual budget of $9.2 billion, approximately two-thirds of the funding is allocated to support public health and prevention activities at the state and local levels.

In addition to funding, the CDC is responsible for providing vaccination recommendations to Americans, including developing childhood immunization schedules and supporting vaccination programs for children who may not have access. Monarez will report to the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Over the years, Kennedy has expressed skepticism regarding vaccine safety, while Monarez’s stance on vaccines remains less known.

Earlier this month, the White House withdrew the nomination of former Republican Congressman and vaccine critic Dave Weldon as CDC director. The scheduled Senate committee hearing was canceled as Weldon was informed that he did not have the necessary votes for confirmation. Due to his well-known stance as a vaccine critic, and his close relationship with Kennedy, the nomination was retracted.

President Trump took to social media on Monday afternoon to express his confidence in Monarez’s collaboration with Kennedy, stating, “As an extraordinary mother and dedicated public servant, Dr. Monarez understands the importance of protecting our children, communities, and future.” Trump also added, “Due to political bias and disastrous mismanagement, Americans have lost confidence in the CDC.”