President Trump’s nominee to head the CDC, Susan Monarez, has been confirmed by the Senate in a 51–47 vote. Monarez, already serving as acting director, becomes the first CDC chief to receive Senate confirmation, a requirement put in place by a 2023 reform law.
Her confirmation marks a significant step in the Trump administration’s efforts to overhaul the CDC. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is leading a major restructuring of the agency after years of mismanagement and politicized science during the COVID era.
The administration is also preparing to trim the CDC’s bloated budget by over 40%, putting taxpayer dollars to better use. This comes after revelations that the agency’s pandemic guidance — including the infamous six-foot “social distancing” rule — was not backed by credible scientific evidence.
A December report from the House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic confirmed that there were no trials, no internal debate, and no accountability for the flawed recommendations that disrupted daily life for millions of Americans.
Monarez now takes the reins with a mandate to restore transparency, accountability, and trust in one of the most criticized federal agencies.
