March 25, 2025
President Trump Monday night announced he has chosen Dr. Susan Monarez to lead the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The President made the announcement in a Truth Social post: “I am proud to announce that Dr. Susan Monarez is my Nominee to serve as the next Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Dr. Monarez brings decades of experience championing Innovation, Transparency, and strong Public Health Systems. She has a Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin, and PostDoctoral training in Microbiology and Immunology at Stanford University School of Medicine.
As an incredible mother and dedicated public servant, Dr. Monarez understands the importance of protecting our children, our communities, and our future. Americans have lost confidence in the CDC due to political bias and disastrous mismanagement. Dr. Monarez will work closely with our GREAT Secretary of Health and Human Services, Robert Kennedy Jr. Together, they will prioritize Accountability, High Standards, and Disease Prevention to finally address the Chronic Disease Epidemic and, MAKE AMERICA HEALTHY AGAIN!”
The announcement comes as the Trump administration tries to respond and halt the measles outbreak resurgence that has been spreading across the country since last year.
The measles outbreak was first reported in Texas last year, and has since spread to 19 other states as of March 25, including California, Georgia, New Jersey, New York, Texas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, and Tennessee have reported measles outbreaks, with Texas reporting the largest number of cases at 279, New Mexico at 38, Oklahoma has four. Tennessee confirmed its first measles case on March 21
One child reportedly died from the disease on March 21 in Texas and it is the suspected cause of death of an adult in New Mexico.
The current resurgence of measles, a viral disease that was once eliminated in the U.S., has sparked heated health debate among parents, health experts, and public officials about vaccine misinformation and vaccine efficacies. American public and health experts have become increasingly concerned due to the US Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F Kennedy‘s minimal and muted responses to the outbreaks.
Secretary Kennedy, a vaccines skeptic, in a recent interview on Fox News, made unsupported claims about the current measles outbreak, including that it was caused by poor health.
Most health experts have attributed the outbreaks of the highly contagious disease to a recent dip below the recommended vaccine rate among children.
Health experts warn that measles is a highly contagious airborne viral disease that spreads when an infected person coughs or sneezes, as well as through contaminated surfaces or close contact with an infected person.
Unvaccinated people and travelers are most at risk, the agency and health experts warn.
