Controversy is igniting over the dismissal of the Director General of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The Donald Trump administration has stated its intention to reform the CDC, which it sees as siding with the pharmaceutical industry, while within the CDC, there are pushbacks asserting that clueless bureaucrats are spreading conspiracy theories.
On the 28th (local time), Robert Kennedy Jr., the Minister of Health and Human Services, claimed in an interview with Fox News that the CDC is a problematic agency and noted that he is working to correct this.
He argued that "the CDC, which regards vaccines as an achievement of modern medicine, is becoming a conduit for misinformation" and said, "There are people who should no longer be working there."
Earlier, on the 27th, Minister Kennedy unexpectedly dismissed Susan Monaleze, the Director General of the CDC. Four senior officials also left the CDC around the time of her dismissal, and they were known to have been in charge of vaccines for respiratory diseases and newly emerging diseases. Director General Monaleze refused Minister Kennedy's demand to dismiss them and soon afterward received calls for her own resignation.
Minister Kennedy, known for being a "vaccine conspiracy theorist," has claimed that "vaccines cause autism" and that "the CDC recommends vaccines due to pressure from the pharmaceutical industry."
Thus, Director General Monaleze found herself in a dismissal crisis just one month after taking office, but she has been resisting Minister Kennedy's demands to resign, initially accepting but then reversing that decision. In response, the White House indicated its support for Minister Kennedy, stating that "President Trump dismissed her."
On that day, spokesperson Karoline Leavitt stated in a briefing that "the president has the right to fire people who do not align with his mission" and noted that "there will be an announcement of a successor soon."
The confusion surrounding the CDC has not been seen for the first time. Minister Kennedy previously dismissed all 17 members of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) in June and controversially appointed eight vaccine skeptics to the committee.
Dr. Debra Hauri, who left the CDC alongside Director General Monaleze, stated, "ACIP can disregard recommendations on important vaccines," adding, "If the CDC lacks scientific leadership, that will be the end."
Criticism is rising across the political spectrum in the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee regarding the dismissal of Director General Monaleze, who had been confirmed by the committee.
Republican Senator Bill Cassidy expressed concern on social media (SNS) that "there seems to be a need for oversight (at the committee level)" regarding the dismissal of Director General Monaleze and others.