Susan Monarez Nominated as CDC Director

President Donald Trump nominates Susan Monarez as the director of the CDC. Monarez, previously deputy director at ARPA-H, will lead an organization responsible for public health threats and vaccine recommendations. Her nomination follows the withdrawn candidacy of vaccine critic Dave Weldon.

In a strategic move, President Donald Trump has announced the nomination of Susan Monarez as the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), an organization she currently oversees in an acting capacity, according to a White House official.

Monarez brings substantial experience, having served as the deputy director for the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health, where she supported groundbreaking biomedical advancements. Her distinguished career includes positions at the Department of Homeland Security and the White House's Office of Science and Technology Policy. The Atlanta-based CDC manages an annual budget of $17.3 billion, primarily funding public health initiatives at state and local levels and making vaccine recommendations for the American populace.

The Department of Health and Human Services was unavailable for immediate comment, but it's noteworthy that this nomination follows the withdrawal of Dave Weldon, a known vaccine critic lacking Senate support for confirmation.

(With inputs from agencies.)