FLASH
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A new row has erupted in Washington over the firing of Susan Monarez, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), just a month after she was confirmed to the post by the Senate. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced Wednesday that Monarez had been fired, but without giving an explanation for the reasons.
Monarez, an infectious disease expert, has refused to accept the decision and has said through her lawyers that only the president can remove her. “As a presidential appointee and Senate confirmed official, only the president can remove her from office. Therefore, the notice received is invalid and she remains the director of the CDC,” said her lawyer, Mark Zaid. He added that they have notified the White House legal counsel of this position.
For his part, Trump spokesman Kush Desai said the dismissal was justified. “Susan Monarez is not aligned with the President’s agenda to make America healthy again. She refused to resign, despite having informed HHS leaders of this intention. For this reason, the White House has removed her from her post.” Along the same lines, White House press secretary Caroline Leavitt confirmed that the name of Monarez’s replacement will be announced soon.
The firing has sparked an internal crisis at the CDC. Four other top executives have resigned, denouncing political interference in their work, budget cuts and the spread of misinformation under the Trump administration. The institution is under the supervision of Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., known for his anti-vaccination stance. Just a day earlier, he limited the use of anti-Covid vaccines in the US, after previously reducing funding for medical research and firing scientific advisers.
Monarez's lawyers accused the administration of using public health for political purposes: "First it was independent advisory committees and experienced experts. Then it was career scientists who were targeted. Now, Secretary Kennedy and HHS are turning public health into a political weapon, putting millions of lives at risk."
This is the second case in as many days that shows the clash between presidential power and independent American institutions. Just last week, Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook sued the Trump administration after her controversial dismissal, arguing that only a court order can remove her from office. There too, the White House justified the move as legal.
The last two episodes show that Donald Trump is facing open resistance from within American institutions, which have historically been protected from political interference. The conflict over Monarez's position, like the Cook case, could turn into a legal battle with profound consequences for institutional independence and the limits of presidential power in the US.
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