ASPPH Statement on the Removal of CDC Director Susan Monarez    

August 28, 2025

(Washington, DC)— The Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health (ASPPH) expresses its profound concern regarding the abrupt firing of Dr. Susan Monarez as Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on August 27, 2025. Dr. Monarez, a Senate-confirmed leader with a strong record of scientific integrity, served in the role for less than a month before her dismissal amid mounting pressure over vaccine policy changes.   

This leadership transition also included senior CDC officials, including the Chief Medical Officer and multiple center directors, announcing their resignation. These departures send an alarming signal about the erosion of public health safeguards at a time when trust and preparedness are critical. ASPPH and our members have partnered with these CDC centers for decades to advance impactful public health, and we view the partnership with public health as essential.  We stand with the agencies’ remaining staff. 

ASPPH urges federal leadership to uphold the CDC’s role as a neutral, science-led institution dedicated solely to the protection and promotion of the public’s health. Abrupt dismissals of top leadership undermine the credibility of public health institutions and jeopardize our nation’s ability to respond effectively to ongoing and emerging health threats.

The recent high-profile departures underscore the need for the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) oversight. We call upon policymakers to restore stability, reinforce scientific decision-making at the CDC, and reaffirm the agency’s mission to protect health and promote well-being through science, research, and prevention.

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