Senator Collins Questions Former Director Monarez about Abrupt Firing from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

At a HELP Committee Hearing, Senator Collins asked former CDC officials about Monarez's removal and current procedures at the Department of Health and Human Services

Washington, D.C. - Today, at a Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee hearing, U.S. Senator Susan Collins questioned former Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Director Dr. Susan Monarez and former Chief Medical Officer Dr. Debra Houry about the circumstances that led to Monarez's firing and current procedures at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Senator Collins' questions focused on the grounds for Dr. Monarez's abrupt firing, allegations of political staff overruling scientists on public health decisions, and HHS's response to a recent measles outbreak.

Q&A on Grounds for Firing Dr. Monarez as CDC Director
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Sen. Collins: Dr. Monarez, the recent turmoil at the CDC only serves to further undermine public confidence in its recommendations. You've had a very unusual tenure there, to say the least. You started out as acting director and had a good relationship with Secretary Kennedy, such that he recommended your appointment to the President. Then you were confirmed by a unanimous Republican vote but opposed by every Democrat and every Independent in the Senate. Then, less than a month on the job, you were abruptly fired.

So, I want to discuss with you further the grounds for your firing, even though I recognize the President has that authority. But as many of us have said, we just changed the law to make the CDC Director confirmed by the Senate, and thus, we have a duty here. First of all, Secretary Kennedy replaced every single member of the advisory committee. Did he consult with you about any of the replacements?

Dr. Monarez: No.

Sen. Collins: When you met with him on August 25, you have testified that he asked you to approve the recommendations of the new members of the committee, regardless of what they were. Is that correct?

Dr. Monarez: That is correct.

Sen. Collins: So, Secretary Kennedy, in testimony before the Finance Committee, has denied asking you to do that. Could you describe the discussion that you had on that issue?

Dr. Monarez: The Secretary, in that morning meeting, was very upset, very animated. And he said, with regard to that particular topic, I have heard that you may not sign off on the forthcoming ACIP recommendations. And I said, I cannot sign off on something before I see the data and the evidence. And he said, and elaborated on this for some period of time, that there is no data and evidence, there is no science, that CDC has never collected the data, the evidence, and the science associated with the safety and efficacy of the vaccines, and that I needed to commit to signing off on each and every one of those recommendations. And if I could not commit to that, I needed to resign.

Q&A on Decisions Made by Political Staff at the CDC
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Sen. Collins: What are the implications for public health, if important scientific decisions at the CDC are made by the political staff, rather than the career scientists?

Dr. Monarez: It concerns me. It really concerns me. As you are aware, and Dr. Houry can elaborate on, these are very important, highly technical discussions that have lifesaving implications for our children and others who need vaccines. And if you don't have the commensurate skill sets, or the ability to ask the right questions, and you're willing to sign off on decisions that are not made with the best available data and evidence, it does put at risk our children. It puts at risk others who need these vaccines, and it takes us into a very dangerous place in public health.

Q&A on HHS Response to Measles Outbreak
Click HERE to watch and HERE to download

Sen. Collins: Dr. Houry, did HHS's response to the measles outbreak earlier this year differ from its response to other infectious disease outbreaks in your previous interactions with the Department?

Dr. Houry: Yes, in several ways. First, I never briefed the Secretary, as did the center director who oversaw measles never briefed the Secretary. And in an outbreak response, usually, you would be briefing leadership. The second thing is, he said things like, vaccines had fetal parts. And I had to send a note to our leadership team to correct that misinformation. We were also asked to include things like Budesonide and Clarithromycin in our toolkits for physicians. And I couldn't allow that, as there wasn't evidence for that, and it would result in harm.

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