President Donald Trump’s nominee to lead the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) told senators that she will redirect the agency’s efforts to support HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s Make America Healthy Again initiative.
Describing her priorities in her opening remarks, Trump’s nominee, Susan Monarez, said she would work to restore trust in the agency, strengthen public health infrastructure, and provide rapid responses to health events.
“I will rebuild credibility by making CDC leadership more public-facing and accountable. I will improve data transparency, with a focus on protecting patient privacy and security. I will ensure all recommendations are backed by publicly available, gold standard science,” Monarez stated. She went on to assert that her priorities “support the President’s and Secretary’s vision of a healthier America,” vowing to lead with “integrity, transparency, and purpose.”
Trump nominated Monarez for the position in March. At the time, he declared on Truth Social that Monarez “brings decades of experience championing Innovation, Transparency, and strong Public Health Systems” and “has a Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin, and PostDoctoral training in Microbiology and Immunology at Stanford University School of Medicine.”
“As an incredible mother and dedicated public servant, Dr. Monarez understands the importance of protecting our children, our communities, and our future,” he wrote. “Americans have lost confidence in the CDC due to political bias and disastrous mismanagement. Dr. Monarez will work closely with our GREAT Secretary of Health and Human Services, Robert Kennedy Jr. Together, they will prioritize Accountability, High Standards, and Disease Prevention to finally address the Chronic Disease Epidemic and, MAKE AMERICA HEALTHY AGAIN!”
Kennedy similarly stated in March that Monarez is a “longtime champion of MAHA values, and a caring, compassionate and brilliant microbiologist and a tech wizard who will reorient CDC toward public health and gold-standard science.”
