Richard Besser, MD, on the Firing of CDC Director Susan Monarez

PRINCETON—The White House yesterday fired CDC Director Susan Monarez after she refused to change vaccine policies and dismiss several members of her senior staff. Her firing led to the resignation of several other top agency officials. Dr. Richard Besser, president and CEO of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, released the following statement in response: 

Firing Susan Monarez is another example of this administration’s ruthless and destructive political agenda which continues to politicize public health. It will cost lives. This firing is designed to silence dissent across the government. With this firing and the resignation of other top CDC leaders, the agency loses its ability to provide the best health advice to the American people. That will also cost lives. 

Dr. Monarez was one of the last lines of defense against this administration’s reckless health agenda. She is a principled public servant and scientist, who put the health of the nation above politics, ideology, and her own job security. We applaud her refusal to toe Secretary Kennedy’s line on vaccines. During her short tenure, she served our nation well. Yet, we know what will come next: an emboldened Secretary Kennedy will now issue the same reckless directives that Dr. Monarez rightly refused to rubber-stamp. 

Everyone deserves the freedom and liberty to make decisions about their health based on the best available information. This administration continues to strip away those rights. I fear that Secretary Kennedy will continue his steady march to limit who can access which life-saving vaccines. Doing so will leave our entire country vulnerable—especially rural communities with limited access to healthcare, people with low incomes or who lack insurance, people with disabilities, and children.  

We commend Senate HELP Committee Chair Bill Cassidy for his call for oversight. It is critical that Congress holds Secretary Kennedy accountable for these actions which imperil the health of the nation. RWJF will continue to speak out on the dangers of this administration's public health agenda. Most of all, we remain dedicated to creating a future where health is no longer a privilege, but a right. That means ensuring all communities have the information, support, and opportunities they need to achieve their healthiest lives possible.

For more information or to speak with an expert, contact media@rwjf.org.  

About the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation

RWJF is a leading national philanthropy dedicated to taking bold leaps to transform health in our lifetime. Through funding, convening, advocacy, and evidence-building, we work side-by-side with communities, practitioners, and institutions to get to health equity faster and pave the way together to a future where health is no longer a privilege, but a right.