Statement: Firing the U.S. CDC Director Will Harm Mainers’ Health

For immediate release: August 28, 2025

Contact: Matt Wellington (mwellington@mainepublichealth.org)

        Statement: Firing the U.S. CDC Director Will Harm Mainers’ Health 

AUGUSTA – The Trump Administration fired Dr. Susan Monarez, the newly appointed Director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, on Wednesday, according to a post on X. Dr. Monarez’s legal counsel released a statement saying that “When CDC Director Susan Monarez refused to rubber-stamp unscientific, reckless directives and fire dedicated health experts, she chose protecting the public over serving a political agenda,” and that she’s being targeted as a result. Other leaders at CDC, including experts on infectious disease, resigned in response.

Matthew Wellington, Associate Director of Maine Public Health Association, issued the following statement in response to Dr. Monarez’s dismissal:

“The U.S. CDC is an international beacon for public health science. Their work protects the health of all Americans from contagious infectious diseases and other threats. Forcing out health experts like Dr. Monarez when they refuse to support a dangerous partisan agenda turns the agency into a misinformation circus. 

We, and thousands of public health professionals across the country, opposed Secretary Kennedy’s nomination because we worried he would attempt to weaken the scientific and structural integrity of the U.S. CDC. We’re now seeing that play out in real time. 

Dismantling the U.S. CDC directly threatens the health of all people in Maine. We won’t be able to access needed federal funding for drinking water safety, infectious disease response, and several other initiatives. At a time when tickborne illnesses are on the rise in Maine and there is still a measles outbreak across the country, we need to be assured that CDC remains nonpartisan and science-based.”

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Maine Public Health Association is dedicated to promoting the health of all people and places in Maine.