Trump has officially picked a new CDC Director after his first choice didn’t make the cut. On Monday, he announced via Truth Social that Dr. Susan Monarez, who’s been serving as the acting CDC Director, is now his official nominee for the job.
Trump praised Monarez’s background, saying she has years of experience in public health, innovation, and transparency. She originally stepped into the acting role while the White House pushed for Trump’s first choice, former Florida Rep. Dave Weldon. But when it became clear Weldon wouldn’t get enough votes in the Senate, the White House pulled his nomination just before his confirmation hearing.
Weldon, known for his past efforts to ban mercury in vaccines, blamed his failed nomination on the pharmaceutical industry, claiming they are the most powerful lobby in D.C. and “don’t mess with Pharma.”
Monarez’s nomination is unique because she doesn’t have a medical degree she holds a PhD in microbiology and immunology, making her the first CDC Director without an MD since 1953. She previously worked as deputy director for ARPA-H, a government agency focused on health research.
Her nomination now heads to the Senate, where she’ll need approval to officially step into the full-time role.
