United States Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has appointed his deputy, Jim O’Neill, as the acting director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the United States. O’Neill will be taking over from Susan Monarez, who was dismissed earlier this week.
In a memo to CDC staff on Thursday, Kennedy wrote, “Together, we will rebuild this institution to fulfill the role it should always have played – as the guardian of America’s health and safety. To help advance this mission, I am pleased to announce that Jim O’Neill, Deputy Secretary of Health and Human Services, will now serve as the acting director of the CDC.”
Prior to becoming Kennedy’s deputy, O’Neill served as a health policy advisor and had connections with several healthcare companies. From 2012 to 2019, he also managed one of the risk investment companies of Peter Thiel, a supporter and billionaire of former President Trump.
Trump considered appointing O’Neill as the Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) after his first election in 2016. O’Neill has extensive ties to Silicon Valley and served as the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Health and Human Services under President George W. Bush.
Monarez’s departure has stirred further unrest within the already tumultuous CDC.
On Wednesday evening, the HHS announced briefly on social media platform X, stating, “Susan Monarez is no longer serving as the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. We thank her for her dedication to the American people.”
The department did not provide an explanation for Monarez’s departure. However, a statement released by the White House later that day indicated that Monarez was fired after she refused to resign.
Monarez’s lawyer stated on Thursday that since Monarez is an appointed official by the President, only Trump had the authority to dismiss her. The attempt to dismiss her was made by the White House personnel department rather than the President himself, so she intends to continue her duties.
White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt informed reporters later on Thursday that Trump terminated Monarez from her position as CDC director because she refused Kennedy’s resignation request.
According to reports from Reuters and other media outlets, Kennedy requested Monarez to resign due to her opposition to the vaccine policy adjustments advocated by the Secretary. Monarez, the first CDC director confirmed by the U.S. Senate under new legislation, was sworn in on July 31, less than a month ago.
Following Monarez’s dismissal, four other high-ranking CDC officials also resigned, further unsettling the prominent U.S. health institution.
Earlier this month, a shooting incident occurred at the CDC headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia. A 30-year-old man from Georgia shot at the CDC from a pharmacy across the street, killing a police officer before committing suicide after firing over 180 shots at the CDC building. The man claimed that depression linked to the COVID-19 vaccine led him to suicidal thoughts.
The White House has attempted to cut nearly $3.6 billion from the CDC’s budget, reducing it to $4 billion for the fiscal year 2026. Kennedy announced a downsizing plan earlier this year, cutting 2,400 CDC personnel, but later rehired approximately 700 employees.
(Reference: Reuters)