In a startling revelation, Monarez claims she was terminated for not aligning with RFK Jr's vaccine agenda. According to Monarez, Kennedy insisted on receiving “blanket approval” for “each and every one of the recommendations” that would be discussed in an upcoming vaccine advisory panel meeting. When Monarez expressed her unwillingness to comply, she alleged that Kennedy had preemptively spoken with the White House about her removal. “I did not resign, and that is when he told me he had already spoken to the White House about having me removed,” Monarez stated.
During a hearing, when Senator Bernie Sanders inquired about her refusal to approve vaccine recommendations without reviewing the evidence, Monarez emphasized the importance of scientific integrity. “I refused to do it because I have built a career on scientific integrity, and my worst fear was that I would then be in a position of approving something that would reduce access to life-saving vaccines to children and others who need them,” she explained.
Monarez, alongside fellow health expert Houry, raised alarm bells regarding the potential repercussions of Kennedy’s vaccine agenda. As an Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) meeting approached, they expressed concerns about Kennedy's replacement of panel members with individuals who question established vaccine science. “I know that the medical community has raised concerns about whether or not, again, they have the commensurate backgrounds to be able to understand the data and the evidence and to evaluate it appropriately,” Monarez remarked.
She highlighted a critical risk: “The stakes are not theoretical. We already have seen the largest measles outbreak in more than 30 years, which claimed the lives of two children. If vaccine protections are weakened, preventable diseases will return.” Houry added that significant public input was lacking in the ACIP meeting, leading to further concerns about the future of public health.
Monarez also recounted RFK Jr's disparaging remarks about CDC employees. “He called, in that context, the CDC the ‘most corrupt federal agency in the world’,” she said, adding that he accused CDC staff of being influenced by the pharmaceutical industry. Monarez noted that Kennedy described the CDC's public health measures—such as mask mandates and social distancing—as dictatorial.
Moreover, Monarez criticized the health secretary for failing to express condolences for David Rose, a police officer killed in a recent shooting at the CDC headquarters. The shooter had attributed his mental health issues to the Covid vaccine.
When questioned about the political implications of health decisions, Monarez expressed deep concern over the influence of politics on public health. “These are important and highly technical discussions that have life-saving implications,” she stated. Houry echoed these sentiments, accusing Kennedy of politicizing the CDC. She alleged that he “censored CDC science, politicized its processes, and stripped leaders of independence.”
In addressing the issue of career scientists being excluded from decision-making, Houry noted that most of those who left were political appointees. “A level down we do have center directors, although 80% are now acting because they’ve been fired, resigned, or retired,” she stated, underlining a troubling trend within the agency.
Monarez recounted a timeline that led to her dismissal, revealing that during a meeting with Kennedy, he expressed concern over her communication with other members of the Help Committee regarding vaccine approval processes. “He told me I was never to do it again,” she recalled. When Senator Ashley Moody questioned whether Monarez’s outreach was calculated, Senator Cassidy defended her actions, asserting, “It is entirely appropriate for someone with oversight concerns to contact my office, or me, or, frankly, any of us.”
In a striking conclusion, Cassidy emphasized the importance of transparency and oversight, stating that upon receiving outreach from Dr. Monarez, he took immediate action to express concerns to both the secretary and the White House.
