4 CDC leaders resign over ‘weaponizing of public health’

At least four top officials at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) submitted their resignations Wednesday, saying the recent changes and leadership at their agency are preventing them from fulfilling their duties as public health authorities.

The resignations came the same day that Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced a slew of changes to limit access to the COVID-19 vaccine, and just hours after news broke that CDC Director Susan Monarez was ousted from the agency. 

Demetre C. Daskalakis, director of the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases; Daniel Jernigan, director of the National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases; and CDC Chief Medical Officer Debra Houry have all submitted their resignations, according to emails shared with The Hill.

Jen Layden, director of the Office of Public Health Data, Surveillance and Technology, also resigned, according to multiple reports.

In his email announcing his resignation, Daskalakis wrote, “I am not able to serve in this role any longer because of the ongoing weaponizing of public health.”

Daskalakis came to public prominence during the mpox outbreak of 2022, leading the U.S.’s response to the disease that spread primarily through the social networks of men who have sex with men.

Houry’s email alleged political interference in the science being carried out at the agency, arguing the risks of vaccines were being amplified at the expense of their life-saving impact on public health.  

“For the good of the nation and the world, the science at CDC should never be censored or subject to political paused or interpretations. Vaccines save lives — this is an indisputable, well-established, scientific fact,” she wrote. 

“Recently, the overstating of risks and the rise of misinformation have cost lives, as demonstrated by the highest number of U.S. measles cases in 30 years and the violent attack on our agency.”

Jernigan stated, “I believe strongly in the mission of public health and the leadership that CDC has given for almost 80 years; however, given the current context in the Department, I feel it is best for me to offer my resignation.”

The Hill reached out to the Department of Health and Human Services for comment on the resignations.

The resignations come just weeks after a shooter attacked the CDC’s headquarters in Atlanta that claimed the life of one police officer. Critics of Kennedy blasted him for his delayed response to the attack, and others accused him of fanning the flames of animosity toward public health workers. During his unsuccessful presidential campaign, Kennedy referred to the CDC as a “cesspool of corruption.”

Monarez, a longtime government scientist recently confirmed as CDC director, was let go from her position after less than a month in the role.

“Susan Monarez is no longer director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. We thank her for her dedicated service to the American people. @SecKennedy has full confidence in his team at @CDCgov who will continue to be vigilant in protecting Americans against infectious diseases at home and abroad,” the X account for the HHS posted late Wednesday afternoon.

DC attorney Mark Zaid released a defiant statement on Monarez’s behalf a few hours later, saying he was representing the CDC director along with lawyer Abbe Lowell.

“When CDC Director Susan Monarez refused to rubber-stamp unscientific, reckless directives and fire dedicated health experts she chose protecting the public over serving a political agenda. For that, she has been targeted,” the statement said.

“Dr. Monarez has neither resigned nor received notification from the White House that she has been fired, and as a person of integrity and devoted to science, she will not resign.”

Earlier in the day, the Food and Drug Administration rescinded emergency use authorizations for COVID-19 vaccines. 

Updated: 9:26 p.m.