Senate OKs new CDC director: 7 things to know – Becker’s Hospital Review | Healthcare News

The Senate voted 51-47 on July 29 to confirm Susan Monarez, PhD, as the new CDC director following her nomination by President Donald Trump in March. 

Dr. Monarez has served as acting CDC director since January and became President Trump’s nominee after he withdrew his previous pick, David Weldon, MD, just hours before his first confirmation hearing in mid-March. This marks the first time the Senate has had to confirm a CDC director under a law passed in 2023.     

Here are seven things to know:

1. Dr. Monarez is a microbiologist and immunologist. Along with her CDC director role, she also serves as the CDC administrator for toxic substances and disease registry. In her current role, Dr. Monarez oversees CDC efforts to protect public health through emergency response, disease prevention and scientific research, while also advising U.S. senior officials on health policy, according to the agency’s website.

2. Prior to her current role, Dr. Monarez served from January 2023 as deputy director of the Advanced Research Project Agency. Before that, she led initiatives aimed at using artificial intelligence to expand mental healthcare access, improve health outcomes, reduce maternal health disparities and address the opioid crisis. 

Dr. Monarez also served in the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy and on the National Security Council, where she advanced efforts in antimicrobial resistance, biomedical innovation, health data privacy and pandemic preparedness. She has held Department of Homeland Security leadership roles and led international collaborations in development and health research. 

3. During her July 9 Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee hearing, Dr. Monarez received praise from Republican Chairman Sen. Bill Cassidy, MD, on her efforts to restore public trust during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

“Earlier this year, Senate Republicans launched a working group to develop legislative solutions to improve the CDC,” Dr. Cassidy said during the hearing. “As a public health official for nearly 20 years, Dr. Monarez brings insight that can guide this process.”

4. Democratic senators grilled her during the hearing about the impact of federal funding cuts to medical research and health programs, and raised concerns about the CDC’s future under HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. When questioned about how Mr. Kennedy has done so far in his HHS role, Dr. Monarez commended his job of leading “a very complex agency.”

“I think the secretary has laid out a very clear vision for making America healthier again,” Dr. Monarez said during the hearing. “I think he has prioritized key public health activities for preventing chronic diseases, for reducing maternal morbidity and mortality, he has emphasized his support for the rural health areas, [and] his support for Indian health services.”

5. Dr. Monarez also highlighted her commitment during the hearing to evidence-based direction and disease prevention, particularly surrounding infections such as measles. 

“If I’m confirmed as CDC director, I look forward to supporting the secretary with science and evidence, and making sure that I am giving him the best information possible,” Dr. Monarez said during the hearing. “Measles is an important health threat and we have to make sure we are doing everything that we can to prevent and mitigate it.”

6. Dr. Monarez also backed fluoride as an “important component to oral health”; it has received criticism as a public health concern from Mr. Kennedy in the past. In a Nov. 2 X post, Mr. Kennedy suggested President Trump’s administration would remove fluoride from public water. 

“[There] are various aspects of using fluoride to improve oral health — a direct application can be very valuable,” Dr. Monarez said.

7. Dr. Monarez’s confirmation comes as the agency grapples with staffing cuts, funding cuts and restructuring. In April, the CDC began laying off 2,400 employees as part of broader cuts within  HHS. At least 700 CDC employees have since been reinstated.