Senate Committee Advances Susan Monarez for CDC Director Amidst Health Policy Debates

The U.S. Senate’s health committee has approved Susan Monarez as President Donald Trump’s nominee for director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), moving her closer to full Senate confirmation. The committee’s 12-11 vote, which split along party lines with Democrats opposing, sends her nomination to the full Senate.

Monarez, 50, is set to become the first CDC director confirmed by the Senate under a 2023 law requiring such approval. She previously served as acting director since January and was nominated in March after Trump withdrew his initial choice, David Weldon. Monarez holds a doctorate in microbiology and immunology and has a background in health technology and biosecurity.

Her advancement comes after months of leadership void at the Atlanta-based federal agency, which is responsible for disease tracking and health threat responses. The CDC has recently faced significant challenges, including staff reductions, key resignations, and controversy surrounding long-standing vaccine policies, particularly those challenged by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

During her confirmation hearing last month, Monarez affirmed her commitment to vaccines, public health interventions, and scientific evidence. However, she largely avoided direct conflict with Kennedy, a known vaccine skeptic who has sought to alter some of the agency’s established protocols. Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) expressed concern on Wednesday, stating that Monarez, as acting director, has not opposed Kennedy’s actions.

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