Senator Bill Cassidy warned that CDC departures will be subject to oversight.
Republican Senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana issued a warning after the Trump administration announced the firing of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) head Susan Monarez.Why It Matters
HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has made sweeping changes to the federal government’s approach to vaccines, including the removal of members of a critical vaccine advisory panel and ending funding for a series of mRNA vaccines. Kennedy has also placed new restrictions on the COVID-19 vaccine.
The White House has defended the attempted ouster of Monarez by arguing she is «not aligned with the president’s agenda», but critics have warned that her firing comes amid deteriorating scientific standards in the federal government and CDC.What To Know
Cassidy, who served as a physician before his foray into politics, responded to the firing of Monarez and the resignation of three other senior CDC officials, in a post to X, issuing a warning to the administration.
«These high profile departures will require oversight by the HELP Committee», Cassidy wrote, referring to the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, which he chairs.
Cassidy supported Monarez’s nomination to lead the CDC.
«America needs a CDC Director who will reform the agency and work to restore public trust in health institutions. With decades of proven experience as a public health official, Dr. Monarez is ready to take on this challenge and I look forward to working with her», he wrote in a statement following her confirmation last month.
