CDC Ousted Director to Face Senate Grilling After RFK Jr.'s Scathing Accusations

Former CDC Director to Testify Before Senate After RFK Jr.'s Accusations Susan Monarez, the former director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), is set to testify before the Senate next week about her ousting last month. The hearing comes after Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. called her a liar during a Senate Finance Committee hearing last Thursday. According to Kennedy's testimony, he fired Monarez after asking her directly if she was a trustworthy person and receiving a response of "no." However, in an op-ed published in The Wall Street Journal the same day, Monarez gave a different account of her firing. She stated that she was ousted after refusing Kennedy's directives to fire senior CDC officials. Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) questioned Kennedy's explanation during the hearing, noting that he should have asked Monarez about her trustworthiness before having the Senate confirm her for the role. "It seems like a pretty straightforward question," Tillis said. Monarez's ousting has sparked concerns about the politicization of the CDC and the impact on public health policy. The agency has been at the center of controversy in recent months, with Kennedy's appointment as Health Secretary drawing criticism from lawmakers and health experts. The Senate Finance Committee hearing last Thursday was marked by tension between Kennedy and Monarez. Kennedy repeatedly called her a liar, while Monarez maintained that she had done nothing wrong. "I'm not going to engage in a debate about whether I'm a liar or not," Monarez said. Monarez's testimony next week is expected to provide more insight into the events surrounding her ousting and the ongoing chaos at the CDC. The hearing will also give lawmakers an opportunity to question Kennedy about his role in the agency's leadership changes. In a statement, a spokesperson for the Department of Health and Human Services said that Monarez's testimony would be "an important part" of the Senate's investigation into the CDC's leadership. The Senate Finance Committee has scheduled a hearing on March 15 to hear from Monarez. The hearing is expected to be closely watched by lawmakers, health experts, and the public as it sheds light on the ongoing controversy surrounding the CDC. Background: Susan Monarez was confirmed as CDC director in January after serving as the agency's deputy director. Her ousting last month came just weeks into her tenure. Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a vocal anti-vaccine activist, was appointed as Health Secretary by President Joe Biden in January. Additional Perspectives: Dr. Peter Hotez, a prominent vaccine expert and dean of the National School of Tropical Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine, expressed concern about the impact of Monarez's ousting on public health policy. "The CDC is supposed to be a science-based agency, not a partisan one," Hotez said. A spokesperson for the American Medical Association (AMA) also weighed in on the controversy, stating that the AMA was "deeply concerned" about the politicization of the CDC and its impact on public health. Current Status: The Senate Finance Committee hearing next week is expected to be closely watched by lawmakers, health experts, and the public. The hearing will provide more insight into the events surrounding Monarez's ousting and the ongoing chaos at the CDC. Next Developments: Monarez's testimony next week is expected to be followed by further action from lawmakers. The Senate Finance Committee has scheduled a follow-up hearing on March 22 to continue its investigation into the CDC's leadership changes. *Reporting by Arstechnica.*