Resignations at the CDC
Four high-ranking civil servants from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have announced their resignation in recent days, citing growing political interference in the agency’s scientific work, particularly regarding vaccines. Two of the officials, Dr. Debra Houry and Dr. Demetre Daskalakis, resigned on Wednesday, hours after the White House called for the removal of CDC Director Susan Monarez.
Background on the Resignations
Monarez, who was confirmed by the Senate at the end of July, was removed from her position less than a month into her term. The White House spokesman, Kush Desai, stated that Monarez "was not on board with the president’s agenda to make America well again." Monarez’s lawyers argue that the removal is illegal and claim that only the President can remove a director confirmed by the Senate.
New Leadership at the CDC
On Thursday, Jim O’Neill, the deputy secretary for health and human services, was selected to act as the interim CDC director. In an internal email to CDC employees, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. stated, "I am committed to working with you to restore trust, transparency, and credibility to the CDC." Kennedy also wrote that "President Trump and I are aligned on the commonsense vision for the CDC: strengthening the public health infrastructure by returning to its core mission of protecting Americans from communicable diseases by investing in innovation to prevent, detect, and respond to future threats."
Concerns Over Vaccine Policy
Houry and Daskalakis stated that they had become increasingly uncomfortable with how vaccine policy was being handled. Both officials pointed to preparations for the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) meeting, which recommends vaccination plans. Houry expressed fear that some decisions were being made before data or science existed to support them. Daskalakis added that he was concerned about attempts to undermine vaccines that had already been recommended with reviewed science.
Lack of Transparency and Communication
The two officials criticized the lack of direct communication between CDC scientists and Health and Human Services (HHS) leadership. Daskalakis stated that his team was never invited to brief Kennedy on topics ranging from measles to COVID-19. When asked about Kennedy’s demands for "radical transparency," Houry and Daskalakis described learning about changes to the COVID-19 vaccine plan for children through social media, rather than internal channels.
Aftermath of the Resignations
The resignations come weeks after a shooting outside the CDC headquarters in Atlanta, which law enforcement authorities linked to COVID-19 misinformation. Houry and Daskalakis expressed concerns about their personal safety in the current climate. The events have triggered calls for oversight, with Senator Bernie Sanders calling for a bipartisan investigation and Senator Patty Murray asking for Kennedy’s removal.
Impact on Public Health
The resignations and shooting have raised concerns about the impact on public health. Daskalakis stated that the security of the CDC had already been compromised, and that continuing under the current conditions would be complicit in enabling harm to people. Houry emphasized the severity of the moment, noting that she had left without a backup plan. The events have also led to restricted authorization for updated COVID-19 vaccines for older adults and people with risk factors for severe COVID-19.
