President Donald Trump will nominate Dr. Susan Monarez as the director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a White House official confirmed on Monday (March 24). Dr. Monarez has been serving as the acting director of the CDC since January, following her tenure at the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health.
The nomination comes after President Trump withdrew his initial choice, David Weldon, earlier this month. Weldon, a former Florida congressman, stated that his nomination was withdrawn due to insufficient votes for confirmation. He was known for his alignment with Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the Secretary of Health and Human Services, and a prominent anti-vaccine activist.
Dr. Monarez's nomination is expected to face scrutiny as she steps into a role critical for public health leadership. The CDC's responsibilities include responding to health emergencies and guiding public health policy. Her leadership will be pivotal in shaping the agency's future direction and maintaining its global standing in health matters.