Susan Monarez confirmed as CDC director in party-line Senate vote

08/03/2025 / By Laura Harris

On July 28, the Senate confirmed Susan Monarez as CDC director in a party-line vote (51 Republicans in favor, 47 Democrats and independents opposed), making her the first CDC director confirmed under a 2023 law requiring Senate approval.
Monarez holds a Ph.D. in microbiology and immunology and has decades of experience in public health, including roles at the HHS and the DHS. She is the first CDC director since 1946 not to hold a medical degree.
During her confirmation hearing, Monarez said she would refocus the CDC on combating communicable diseases and improving pandemic preparedness.
Monarez pledged support for the “Make America Healthy Again” initiative led by HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., including efforts to reduce chronic disease by improving access to food and clean water.
She emphasized rebuilding public trust, enhancing transparency, expanding use of AI, modernizing lab infrastructure and participating in the vaccine advisory process.

The U.S. Senate formally confirmed Susan Monarez as the new director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Monday, July 28.

Nominated by President Donald Trump after his initial pick – former Rep. Dr. Dave Weldon (R-FL) – withdrew, Monarez holds a Ph.D. in microbiology and immunology. She has spent decades working in public health and biosecurity roles within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

Monarez becomes the first CDC director to be confirmed by the Senate under a new provision of a 2023 funding law that gave the upper chamber direct oversight of the post. She is also the first CDC director since the agency’s founding in 1946 not to hold a medical degree.

“Congratulations to Dr. Susan Monarez, PhD, on her Senate confirmation as the 21st Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. She brings decades of distinguished experience in health innovation, disaster preparedness, global health and biosecurity. Dr. Monarez will lead [the CDC’s] efforts to prevent disease and respond to domestic and global health threats, advancing [Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy’s] mission to Make America Healthy Again,” the CDC posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, on July 30.

The vote, split cleanly along party lines, saw all 51 Republicans voting in favor, while all 47 Democrats and caucusing independents opposed the nomination. Two Republican senators were absent.

Monarez to focus on infectious diseases and support MAHA agenda

During her confirmation hearing in June, Monarez told senators that she intends to sharpen the agency’s focus on combating infectious diseases, while also aligning with the broader “Make America Healthy Again” (MAHA) agenda championed by Kennedy.

“As CDC refocuses its efforts specifically on communicable diseases, we’ll be laser-focused on that area, but we will continue, and I will continue, to make sure that we’re supporting the secretary’s vision of overall Making America Healthy Again,” Monarez said in June.

Monarez, a career public health official, cited efforts to improve children’s access to nutritious food and clean water as part of the MAHA initiative. She linked such efforts to the fight against chronic diseases, saying they represent critical steps toward protecting the long-term health of American youth. Additionally, Monarez laid out a vision for restoring trust in the CDC by emphasizing transparency and scientific integrity.

Among her top priorities, Monarez listed increasing the use of artificial intelligence to enhance public health responses, modernizing CDC laboratories and diagnostic tools and ensuring rapid detection of emerging biological threats. She also signaled a willingness to work within new leadership structures at the CDC and HHS, including participating in the advisory process surrounding immunization policy. (Related: Trump’s CDC nominee pledges focus on infectious diseases, support for MAHA agenda in Senate hearing.)

CDC.news has more similar stories.

Watch this March 3 episode of “Brighteon Broadcast News” as the Health Ranger Mike Adams talks about MAHA in crisis, following an article by RFK Jr. that advocates for mass MMR vaccination.

This video is from the Health Ranger Report channel on Brighteon.com.