Overview

• Officials said Susan Monarez was removed for not aligning with President Trump’s agenda, while her lawyers argue the dismissal is unlawful for a Senate‑confirmed appointee.
• Deputy Health Secretary Jim O’Neill was tapped as acting CDC director and will retain his HHS post, according to reports.
• Top CDC leaders Debra Houry, Demetre Daskalakis and Daniel Jernigan resigned, citing political interference and the sidelining of science in their departure letters.
• Hundreds of CDC employees gathered outside the Atlanta headquarters to applaud and show support for the departing officials, as seen on an AP livestream.
• Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has reshaped vaccine policy by cutting research funding, disbanding the CDC’s immunization advisory panel and rolling back recommendations, drawing calls for a Senate inquiry from Republican Bill Cassidy.