Donald Trump taps CDC’s acting director Susan Monarez as new nominee to lead agency

President Trump said Monday he has chosen Dr. Susan Monarez as his nominee to head the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention after the White House withdrew its previous nominee earlier this month.

Dr. Monarez has been in the role of acting director of the CDC since January. In a Truth Social post, Mr. Trump said that she brings “decades of experience championing Innovation, Transparency and strong Public Health Systems.”

“As an incredible mother and dedicated public servant, Dr. Monarez understands the importance of protecting our children, our communities, and our future,” he wrote. “Americans have lost confidence in the CDC due to political bias and disastrous mismanagement.”

Mr. Trump wrote that she will be working closely with Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

“Together, they will prioritize Accountability, High Standards and Disease Prevention to finally address the Chronic Disease Epidemic and Make America Healthy Again,” he wrote.

Dr. Monarez has previously served as the deputy director for the Advances Research Projects Agency for Health.

The White House withdrew the nomination of Dr. David Weldon earlier this month. He told the media that “there were not enough votes to get me confirmed” amid questions about his past views of vaccines.