E&C Democratic Leaders Demand Answers from Secretary Kennedy on CDC Director’s Abrupt Firing
“By all reports, your decision to force Dr. Monarez from her position—to which the Senate confirmed her only a few weeks ago—was based on her refusal to blindly approve changes to national vaccine policy”
Energy and Commerce Committee Ranking Member Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), Health Subcommittee Ranking Member Diana DeGette (D-CO), and Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee Ranking Member Yvette D. Clarke (D-NY) wrote to Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. today demanding answers about a series of concerning developments at the agency, including the abrupt firing of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Director Dr. Susan Monarez.
“Dr. Monarez’s abrupt termination and the additional losses of experienced leadership at CDC through resignations and reductions in force severely diminish the agency’s ability to serve its mission to protect the health and safety of the nation and respond to emerging public health threats,” the three Democratic Committee leaders wrote. “You are using your position as Secretary to promote the ideological anti-vaccine agenda you have led for decades, and your attacks against the people and programs at CDC push vaccines farther out of reach for many families and put all Americans’ health at risk.”
The Democratic Committee leaders requested answers from Kennedy to a series of questions, including:
- What was your justification for asking Dr. Monarez to either resign or be fired?
- Did you demand that Dr. Monarez agree to accept the recommendations from the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices without CDC conducting any independent analysis of the scientific basis for those recommendations?
- Did you demand that Dr. Monarez fire CDC employees? If so, who did you tell her to fire and for what reason?
The Committee leaders also noted serious concerns that congressional oversight letters to Secretary Kennedy have gone unanswered for months.
“Congress cannot conduct its oversight responsibilities if you refuse to answer basic questions about your decisions as Secretary,” the Democrats continued. “Your policy and personnel changes demonstrate that you are intentionally damaging vaccine access and affordability for Americans who wish to vaccinate themselves and their families. We expect that you will provide the answers to the questions in this letter by the date requested as well as responses to our previous requests for information.”
Read the full letter HERE.
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