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Orgo-Life the new way to the future Advertising by AdpathwayOn Monday, President Donald Trump selected Susan Monarez — the current acting director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention — to lead the agency going forward.
Below are six things to know about this nomination.
- This nomination replaces one that the White House withdrew on March 13. Trump had initially chosen physician and former Republican congressman Dave Weldon to lead the CDC.
Weldon, who has been notably skeptical of vaccines, said he was told there were an insufficient number of Senate votes to confirm his nomination.
- Monarez has served as the CDC’s acting director since January 23.
Before taking this role, she was the deputy director of Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H). ARPA-H is an agency within HHS dedicated to advancing high-risk, high-reward research in the biomedical and healthcare fields.
- Monarez has about 20 years of experience working for government agencies. In addition to the CDC and ARPA-H, she has held roles at the Department of Homeland Security and the White House’s Office of Science and Technology Policy.
Most of Monarez’ experience working for the federal government has focused on strengthening the nation’s preparedness and response to biological, chemical and other health-related threats.
- If confirmed, Monarez will work closely with Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who was confirmed as HHS secretary last month.
The two will work together to prioritize “accountability, high standards and disease prevention,” President Trump wrote in a Truth Social post.
- If her nomination is confirmed, Monarez will become the first CDC director confirmed after receiving Senate approval. Congress established a new rule in 2022 requiring Senate confirmation for the CDC director role.
- Monarez would be the first nonphysician to lead the CDC in more than 50 years. While not a physician, she earned a PhD in microbiology and immunology from the University of Wisconsin–Madison.
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