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douglas9

(5,816 posts)
Wed Sep 17, 2025, 01:22 PM Sep 2025

Ousted CDC Director Susan Monarez predicts U.S. won't be ready for next pandemic as she recounts RFK Jr.'s firing of her

What to know about Senate hearing today:

Susan Monarez, who was ousted from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., testified Wednesday before the Senate committee focused on health that she faced pressure from the secretary to change the childhood vaccine schedule. She said he wanted to fire officials if they weren't compliant.

Dr. Heather Houry testified that she resigned in August because "Secretary Kennedy's actions repeatedly censored CDC science, politicized our processes, and stripped agency leaders of the ability to protect the health of the American people." She called on Kennedy to resign.

Monarez said she is "really nervous" about the upcoming childhood vaccine panel recommendations.

snip>

Mullin says he was mistaken that Monarez's meeting with Kennedy was recorded, according to Cassidy
Cassidy later announced that Mullin left the committee room and told reporters he was mistaken in claiming that Monarez's conversation with Kennedy was recorded.

Still, the chairman reiterated, "if there is a recording, it should be released and it would beg the question of what other conversations were recorded."

https://www.cbsnews.com/live-updates/cdc-susan-monarez-debra-houry-senate-testimony-rfk-jr/


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