New CDC director Susan Monarez vowed to restore trust in the agency. Then she was fired

Susan Monarez, President Donald Trump's nominee to be director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, arrives to testify before the Senate HELP Committee, at the Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, June 25, 2025. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

Editor’s Note: Healthbeat published this story on Aug. 21. WABE is republishing the story on Aug. 28 — a day after the Trump administration fired Susan Monarez.

Newly appointed director Susan Monarez voiced support for Centers for Disease Control and Prevention workers in a media event on Thursday, nearly two weeks after a shooting at the agency’s Atlanta headquarters.

Monarez said restoring Americans’ trust in the CDC and educating people about the work the scientists, researchers and others do for public health is a top priority.