The Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee held a June 25 hearing to consider the nomination of Susan Monarez, PhD, as director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Monarez previously served as CDC acting director and has held positions at the Department of Homeland Secretary, the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority, and the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health.
In his opening remarks, Senate HELP Chair Bill Cassidy, MD (R-La.) highlighted criticisms of the agency during the COVID-19 pandemic, stating, “The agency failed to detect and anticipate the spread of COVID-19, even when the virus had already reached the United States.” Cassidy also noted his concerns with the administration’s recent restructuring of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), stating, “I want President Trump to be successful in his efforts to restore trust in our public health system. Given that there is no confirmed CDC Director — along with an ACIP panel that has very few members, many of whom lack broad vaccine and immunology expertise — there are concerns about the rushed nature of this process.” Ranking Member Bernie Sanders I-Vt.) opened the hearing by sharing findings from a June 25 Senate HELP minority staff report (PDF) on the health care impacts of reconciliation legislation being considered by House and Senate Republicans.
Throughout the hearing, committee members raised questions about CDC leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic and the administration’s broader public health agenda. Several senators asked about the agency’s role in vaccine policy, rural health support, and staffing reductions in CDC programs such as injury prevention and environmental health. In her remarks, Monarez emphasized her priorities of restoring public trust in the agency (PDF), modernizing data systems, and strengthening preparedness for infectious disease threats.