Former CDC Director to Testify on Capitol Hill After Firing by RFK Jr.

The former head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will appear on Capitol Hill next week to testify about her abrupt removal from office.

The Senate Health Committee announced Tuesday it will hear from Dr. Susan Monterrez, who was dismissed last month by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Kennedy claimed Monterrez told him she was “an untrustworthy person.” Monterrez, however, says she was fired for refusing to sign off on new vaccine policies recommended by a panel handpicked by Kennedy.

Monterrez has publicly criticized Kennedy for his positions on vaccines, saying her removal reflects a broader effort to silence scientific voices. Joining her at the September 17 hearing will be former senior CDC official Debra Hourie, who resigned in protest after Monterrez was let go. Hourie has also voiced concerns about Kennedy’s vaccine stance.

Lawmakers are expected to press both former officials on their experiences, as well as the broader implications of political influence over federal health policy.

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