CDC director pushed out, flood of top resignations follow

The director of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and several senior officials go in a massive reshuffle to the besieged agency.

Susan Monarez, the director of the CDC, was dismissed for a little of a month in her role. At least four other officials also submitted their resignation.

“Susan Monarez is no longer director of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,” said a position on the X account of the Ministry of Health and Social Services. “We thank her for her service devoted to the American people.”

The post continued by saying that secretary Kennedy has fully confident that the CDC “who will continue to be vigilant to protect Americans from infectious diseases in the country and abroad”.

The Washington Post reported for the first time to oust.

Four other senior CDC officials submitted their resignations, according to letters examined by NBC News: Dr Debra Houry, the CDC chief doctor; Dr DEMETRE DASKALAKIS, Director of the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory DIEESES; Dr. Daniel Jernigan, director of the national center for emerging and zoonotic infectious diseases; And Dr. Jen Layden, director of the Office of Public Health, Surveillance and Technology.

Departures come at a tumultuous moment for the agency.

On August 8, a shooter broke the windows of six buildings of the CDC campus. A police officer died during the shooting. Several days after the shooting, Monarez sought to reassure employees during a virtual meeting.

“We know that disinformation can be dangerous,” said Monarez at the meeting, according to a transcription obtained by NBC News. “Not only for health, but for those who trust us and those we want to trust. We must rebuild confidence together. “

Last Friday, Monarez canceled a meeting with CDC staff who were scheduled for Monday. The objective of the meeting was going to be security problems and safety improvements after the shooting.

“Unfortunately, we have to postpone Monday’s event for a meeting of the HHS to which I was asked to attend DC in person,” Monarez wrote in an e-mail to the CDC staff seen by NBC News.

With the dismissal of Monarez, the agency returns to the state without a leader in which it was in the majority of the new Trump administration. Trump’s original choice for CDC director, Dr. David Weldon, was withdrawn from consideration a few hours before his confirmation audience in March. Weldon, a former member of the Florida Congress, had history questioning of vaccine safety.

Monarez was briefly was an interim director of the agency before she was nominated in place of Weldon.