The White House selects Robert Kennedy Jr.’s deputy to take over from the dismissed CDC director | Health News

The Trump administration intends to appoint Jim O’Neill as the acting chief of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), replacing a director who disagreed with the White House over policies that contradict scientific evidence. The appointment comes after Trump officials announced the removal of CDC Director Susan Monarez. O’Neill presently serves as deputy to Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr. Sources close to Monarez have stated that she conflicted with Kennedy on matters of misinformation and vaccine policy. It has been reported that several senior CDC officials have resigned in solidarity with Monarez and in opposition to what they see as the undermining of scientific expertise in public health policy. Monarez, who had been in her position for less than a month, reportedly refused to support “unscientific, reckless directives” and fire committed health experts. Kennedy, a known anti-vaccination activist before his government role, has taken steps to reshape the agency and remove advisors who do not align with his views. He dismissed a vaccine advisory board and replaced its members with persons sharing his views. In an interview, Kennedy declared the CDC in need of reform, hinting at the agency’s “problems” without mentioning Monarez by name. He also stated that he cannot comment on personnel issues but believes the agency is in trouble and that some employees may no longer be suited for the job. At the White House briefing, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt supported the assertion that the CDC director must align with Trump’s mission. Scientists and doctors who worked with Monarez have expressed concerns that recent changes at the CDC undermines the agency’s mission to safeguard public health. Demetre Daskalakis, a resigned top CDC leader, suggested that the agency’s new direction under Trump could pose real risks to public health. Tensions were heightened within the agency following an attack on the CDC by a gunman who blamed Covid-19 vaccines for his ailments. Kennedy has wrongly labeled the COVID-19 vaccine as the “deadliest vaccine ever made.” After the incident, the union representing CDC employees denounced Kennedy for fueling public distrust of the health agency. The Fired But Fighting group, composed of dismissed employees, criticized Kennedy for his “continuous lies about science and vaccine safety” that have contributed to a climate of hostility and mistrust. The employees have also accused Kennedy of “terminating critical CDC workers in a destroy-first-and-ask-questions-later manner” as the agency continues to downsize its workforce.

Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/8/29/white-house-picks-robert-kennedy-jrs-deputy-to-replace-ousted-cdc-director?traffic_source=rss