U.S. disease control chief fired after less than a month in position

Susan Monarez has been ousted as director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention less than a month after taking office, making her the shortest-serving CDC chief in history. The Department of Health and Human Services initially announced her departure without explanation, but Monarez’s legal team said she had neither resigned nor been fired, accusing HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. of politicizing public health. Hours later, the White House formally terminated her, saying she refused to resign. Reports suggest Monarez was pressured over her stance on vaccine policies, which Kennedy has moved to overhaul, including rolling back COVID-19 shot recommendations. Several senior CDC officials also resigned the same day in protest.
Credit: CGTN