Watch a livestream of the important Senate hearing in the video player above starting at 10 a.m. ET, and stay updated on the latest developments here. The hearing will feature Susan Monarez, the recently ousted former director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), who is poised to share alarming insights about the future of vaccine recommendations for children.
Susan Monarez plans to testify before the Senate committee that if the vaccine advisory panel proceeds with its scheduled meeting this week, there is a significant risk that vaccines for children could be limited. This testimony, obtained by CBS News, sheds light on the contentious circumstances surrounding her removal from the CDC.
Monarez is set to recount her experience during a controversial meeting with Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., which occurred shortly before her dismissal. During a previous testimony, Kennedy claimed that Monarez expressed doubts about her trustworthiness when he questioned her integrity. Monarez intends to counter this narrative, asserting that her ousting was a result of her refusal to pre-approve recommendations from the newly reconstituted Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP).
According to Monarez, she was pressured to compromise her ethics as a public official. She plans to share that Secretary Kennedy demanded her commitment to approve all ACIP recommendations without reviewing the scientific evidence. Additionally, he insisted she dismiss career scientists at the agency without just cause. Monarez will state, “Secretary Kennedy told me he could not trust me,” emphasizing that her unwillingness to comply with these demands led to her termination.
Joining Monarez in the Senate hearing is Dr. Debra Houry, who also resigned as the CDC's chief medical officer. Houry is expected to discuss the significant changes in collaboration between the CDC and HHS under Kennedy's leadership. She plans to express that the agency's scientists were sidelined from critical discussions, which is not consistent with what she describes as "gold standard science."
During recent testimonies, both Democratic and Republican senators have voiced concerns regarding Kennedy’s leadership and the direction of the CDC’s vaccine panel. Senator John Barrasso of Wyoming highlighted public fear amid ongoing measles outbreaks and questioned the credibility of the CDC's vaccine recommendations under the current administration.
In response to the unfolding events, HHS spokesperson Andrew Nixon accused Monarez of acting against President Trump's agenda and described her as having engaged in actions that undermined the administration's efforts. He claimed her refusal to acknowledge her alleged insubordination led to her termination.
The Senate hearing is poised to address significant issues surrounding vaccine policy and the integrity of health recommendations for children. As the testimony unfolds, it will shed light on the contentious dynamics within the CDC and HHS, raising important questions about the future of public health policy in America.
