The Frank
Home
Today's Fastrack
About
Subscribe
Senate Confirms Susan Monarez as CDC Director

Senate Confirms Susan Monarez as CDC Director

author
author

The Frank Staff

The Frank Staff.
[email protected]
@TheFrank_com
The Frank Staff
author

The Frank Staff

The Frank Staff.
[email protected]
@TheFrank_com

Jul 30, 2025

·

0 min read

Share options

Email
Facebook
X
Telegram
WhatsApp
Reddit

The Senate on July 29 in a party-line vote confirmed Susan Monarez as director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Fifty-one Republicans voted to confirm Monarez, while 47 Democrats or nominal independents who caucus with the Democrats voted in opposition. Two GOP senators missed the vote.

The CDC is part of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), which is headed by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

“Dr. Monarez will lead CDC ’s efforts to prevent disease and respond to domestic and global health threats, advancing Secretary Kennedy’s mission to Make America Healthy Again,” the CDC said in a statement.

Monarez is now the first Senate-confirmed CDC director, under a funding bill signed in 2023 that took effect this year. The longtime government employee, who has worked in various roles in the Departments of HHS and Homeland Security, is the first CDC director since 1953 not to hold a medical degree. She holds a doctorate in microbiology and immunology.

Monarez told senators during her confirmation hearing that she would refocus the agency to tackle infectious diseases.

She said that she would “make sure that we are doing everything we can from CDC to be able to prevent, detect, and respond to our emerging infectious disease threats both here and abroad.”

Kennedy has said he handpicked Monarez, describing her as a “longtime champion of MAHA values.”

President Donald Trump, who has said Monarez is “an incredible mother and dedicated public servant,” nominated her after withdrawing his first CDC director nominee, Dr. Dave Weldon, a former congressman. Weldon’s nomination was withdrawn due to opposition not only from Democrats, but from some Republicans over his investigating the safety of vaccines.

“Vaccines absolutely save lives, and if I’m confirmed as CDC director, I commit to making sure that we continue to prioritize vaccine availability,” Monarez told senators in June.

Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.), chairman of the Senate Health Committee, said on X after that hearing that Monarez “understands the importance of vaccines and global health security preparedness” and that she was an excellent choice to lead the CDC.
Democrats have said they opposed Monarez because she declined to say where she disagrees with Kennedy.

“I am very concerned that a CDC nominee who says she wants to be independent and will apply science is so unwilling to speak publicly about scientific evidence that contradicts the secretary,” Sen. Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.) said.

Monarez said that Kennedy “has said he values and prioritizes independent thinking and using science to drive decision-making.” She added: “I am an independent thinker, and I am a scientist. And I will welcome the opportunity to share my opinions based on science and evidence with him as he makes some of these very difficult decisions.”

Share options

Email
Facebook
X
Telegram
WhatsApp
Reddit

Erika Kirk Addresses the Nation

Sep 13, 2025

3 min

Kirk Assassin Tyler Robinson Faces Death Penalty

Sep 13, 2025

3 min

What We Know About Assassin Tyler Robinson

Sep 13, 2025

5 min

Office Depot Fires Worker Who Refused to Print Kirk Vigil Poster

Sep 13, 2025

3 min

Appeals Court Allows Trump to Defund Planned Parenthood

Sep 13, 2025

<1 min

Meet the Left-Wing Foundations Funding Pro-Crime Policies

Sep 13, 2025

5 min

Charlie Kirk Assassination Suspect Arrested: Tyler Robinson

Sep 13, 2025

4 min

Teen Colorado School Shooter Identified

Sep 13, 2025

2 min

Teachers, Firefighters, Officials Fired over Kirk Posts

Sep 12, 2025

2 min

Trump Sending National Guard to Memphis

Sep 13, 2025

2 min

Illegal Migrant Beheads Dallas Motel Manager

Sep 12, 2025

2 min

Jihadists massacre 89 Christians in African nation

Sep 12, 2025

3 min

Video: Kirk's Assassin Jumping Off Roof

Sep 13, 2025

1 min

Secret Service Employee Put on Leave Over Kirk Comments

Sep 12, 2025

3 min

Watch: Trump Cheered at Yankee Stadium

Sep 12, 2025

3 min

Iryna Zarutska’s Boyfriend Speaks Out

Sep 13, 2025

2 min

Bolsonaro Sentenced to 27 Years in Prison

Sep 13, 2025

1 min

Ilhan Omar Mocks Charlie Kirk’s Legacy

Sep 12, 2025

3 min

Nepal: Deadly Protests Force PM Out

Sep 12, 2025

3 min

FBI Releases Photos of Person of Interest in Kirk Assassination

Sep 12, 2025

1 min

  • Today's Fastrack
  • About
  • Contact
  • Policy & Terms
  • Recaptcha