⚡️ NIMITZ HEALTH NEWS FLASH ⚡️ 

“Nomination of Susan Monarez to Serve as CDC Director”

Senate HELP Committee

June 25th, 2025 (recording linked here)

WITNESS & TESTIMONY

• Dr. Susan Monarez, Nominee for CDC Director

HEARING HIGHLIGHTS

MEMBER OPENING STATEMENTS

• Chair Cassidy (R-LA) opened the hearing by criticizing the CDC’s performance during the COVID-19 pandemic, stating that it failed to provide timely and accurate information, causing Americans to rely on external sources like Johns Hopkins’ dashboard. He argued that the CDC let political groups such as teachers' unions influence its guidance, which led to prolonged school closures and harmed children's learning and mental health. Cassidy emphasized the need for systemic reform, transparency, and leadership at the CDC to restore public trust and ensure data-driven decisions. He expressed hope that Dr. Monarez, if confirmed, would lead with integrity and support President Trump’s goals to rebuild the nation’s public health infrastructure.

• Ranking Member Sanders (I-VT) criticized an upcoming reconciliation bill, calling it one of the most destructive pieces of health legislation in recent history due to its deep cuts to Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act. He warned the bill would strip 16 million Americans of health insurance and lead to over 50,000 preventable deaths annually, while benefiting billionaires with tax breaks. Sanders highlighted the disproportionate harm to rural hospitals and communities, referencing testimonials from healthcare providers nationwide to illustrate the devastating effects. He condemned the committee’s refusal to hold hearings on the legislation and urged colleagues to oppose the bill and instead guarantee healthcare as a human right.

WITNESS OPENING STATEMENT

• Dr. Monarez described her academic and scientific career, which included work on deadly diseases like African sleeping sickness and toxoplasmosis, and emphasized how public health advancements can save lives. She outlined her experience in federal public health leadership, including contributions to BARDA, DHS’s Ebola response, and ARPA-H innovations in AI and rural health tools. Monarez identified three priorities if confirmed: restoring trust through transparency, strengthening infrastructure with real-time detection and technology, and enabling evidence-based decision-making to prepare for future outbreaks.

QUESTION AND ANSWER SUMMARY

• Sen. Paul (R-KY) questioned on whether it was appropriate for Francis Collins to urge discrediting scientists with differing views during COVID-19. Dr. Monarez avoided a direct answer but emphasized her support for open scientific discourse. On gain-of-function research, she said all such research should have been paused but was unaware of specific exemptions related to Wuhan.

  Sen. Paul also asked about transparency in royalties received by CDC advisers; Dr. Monarez agreed such disclosures are essential for independent decision-making.

• Sen. Sanders pressed on Secretary Kennedy’s decision to end U.S. funding for global vaccine programs, which Dr. Monarez cautiously criticized, affirming her belief in the life-saving value of vaccines. She agreed there is no proven link between vaccines and autism.

  Sen. Sanders challenged her on the impact of Medicaid cuts, especially for rural hospitals and 16 million potential coverage losses; Dr. Monarez said she believed no one would lose access, to which Sen. Sanders called unrealistic.

• Sen. Marshall (R-KS) defended the proposed Medicaid reforms, arguing they increase funding while addressing inefficiencies and limited provider access. He emphasized chronic disease and antimicrobial resistance as top concerns. Dr. Monarez committed to keeping CDC focused on infectious diseases while supporting broader HHS efforts on chronic conditions and pledged investment in next-gen antibiotics and better surveillance.

• Sen. Hickenlooper (D-CO) asked how AI and advanced diagnostics would be leveraged at CDC. Dr. Monarez laid out a plan to modernize infrastructure, improve outbreak detection, and enhance operational efficiency using AI.

  Sen. Hickenlooper warned of Medicaid cuts’ impact on community health centers; Dr. Monarez acknowledged their importance and said she’d advocate for their sustainability, even if policy influence is limited.

• Sen. Murkowski (R-AK) raised concerns about ACIP vacancies and vaccine policy credibility. Dr. Monarez said she would prioritize recruiting technically qualified, unbiased experts.

  Sen. Murkowski also emphasized global immunization programs; Dr. Monarez reaffirmed her commitment to global health preparedness and pledged to keep CDC engaged in international disease response.

• Sen. Baldwin (D-WI) criticized the dismissal of the CDC’s childhood lead poisoning team, which delayed crisis response in Milwaukee. Dr. Monarez agreed to review staffing and restore program capacity.

  Sen. Baldwin also raised concerns about eliminating cancer screening programs; Dr. Monarez committed to supporting their continuation, even if moved to another part of HHS.

• Sen. Hawley (R-MO) focused on the rise in childhood chronic illness and nuclear contamination in St. Louis. Dr. Monarez said she supported broader health initiatives for children and would work with the Secretary.

  When pressed about ATSDR’s past study on a Superfund site, Dr. Monarez pledged to review the methodology and follow up, recognizing the importance of accurate environmental health data.

• Sen. Kim (D-NJ) pressed about CDC staffing cuts to the World Trade Center Health Program, expressing concern that critical decisions were made without her knowledge while she was acting director. Dr. Monarez stated she was not involved and repeatedly deferred detailed answers, offering to follow up.

  Sen. Kim challenged how she would assert herself if confirmed, especially when evidence-based leadership is needed, and highlighted further cuts at the Injury Center. Dr. Monarez declined to state whether she disagreed with those decisions.

• Sen. Collins (R-ME) asked for protection of a Lyme disease vaccine trial in Maine from the kind of politically driven disruptions seen previously. Dr. Monarez agreed on its importance and pledged support.

  Sen. Collins also criticized a CDC rule on dog imports from Canada as unnecessary and burdensome. She also warned of delays in Alzheimer’s BOLD Act grants due to staffing losses. Dr. Monarez promised to investigate both and follow up.

• Sen. Murray (D-WA) criticized the replacement of all 17 ACIP members with individuals lacking ethics reviews, some holding anti-vaccine views. Dr. Monarez agreed ethics vetting was essential but could not confirm if it had occurred. She pledged to uphold evidence-based policy but gave few details on how she would respond to flawed or politicized ACIP decisions.

• Sen. Banks (R-IN) asked how CDC would improve abortion-related data collection from non-reporting states. Dr. Monarez acknowledged its importance but was unfamiliar with the database and committed to working with him.

  On CDC's Atlanta headquarters, Dr. Monarez supported its community-based structure and distributed workforce. When asked about the CDC being too academic and slow, she emphasized her priorities: modernizing infrastructure, timely data, and improved emergency response.

• Sen. Hassan (D-NH) raised concerns about cuts to overdose prevention programs; Dr. Monarez pledged continuity during transitions.

  Sen. Hassan pressed on Secretary Kennedy’s claims about measles and Vitamin A. Dr. Monarez avoided direct disagreement but affirmed measles’ lethality and Vitamin A’s limited role.

  Sen. Hassan criticized her reluctance to publicly challenge misinformation.

• Sen. Husted (R-OH) focused on AI in healthcare. Dr. Monarez said AI can enhance care if well-targeted and monitored. She stressed the need for safeguards.

  On SNAP and nutrition-driven disease, Dr. Monarez supported shifting CDC focus to infectious diseases but pledged support for broader health priorities through the Secretary’s office.

• Sen. Blunt Rochester (D-DE) raised concerns about vaccine affordability if ACIP’s role is undermined. Dr. Monarez affirmed support for free vaccines and their public health value.

  Sen. Blunt Rochester urged bipartisan support for preserving expert-led vaccine policy.

• Chair Cassidy emphasized restoring vaccine trust amid measles outbreaks and urged Monarez to ensure balanced, science-based ACIP meetings. He warned against sidelining mRNA platforms and asked if she supported their continued use for diseases like Lyme and HIV. Dr. Monarez affirmed support for mRNA vaccines and committed to seating scientifically qualified ACIP members who can critically evaluate data.

• Sen. Markey (D-MA) warned that proposed GOP healthcare cuts would devastate rural care access, especially for Medicaid patients. He tied rising measles cases to anti-vaccine messaging and criticized Kennedy’s ACIP picks, including known skeptics. Dr. Monarez affirmed support for vaccines but did not directly confront Kennedy’s decisions.

• Sen. Kaine (D-VA) challenged the elimination of the CDC’s Office on Smoking and Health. He pointed out the timing of her leadership tenure and accused the administration of undermining tobacco control. Dr. Monarez denied involvement

• Sen. Alsobrooks (D-MD) criticized the administration’s cuts to science and public health, especially the firing of experienced ACIP members. She questioned whether new appointees had conflicts of interest, including ties to vaccine litigation. Dr. Monarez deferred to ethics reviews but did not dispute the concerns.

  Sen. Alsobrooks also raised CDC’s reversal on water fluoridation; Dr. Monarez stated she believes fluoridated water is safe.