The White House has doubled down on President Donald Trump's decision to fire Susan Monarez as director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt delivered an aggressive defense of the decision, warning other federal officials against resisting what she called Trump's "rightful" authority.
Monarez was officially terminated on Wednesday according to a Department of Health and Human Services statement. However, she is refusing to step down and challenging the firing through her lawyers, creating an unprecedented standoff between the CDC and the White House.
Legal challenge escalates
The fired CDC director's legal team argues that only Trump himself can remove Monarez from her position, not subordinate officials. She was confirmed as CDC director just one month ago, making the rapid dismissal particularly controversial within public health circles.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Trump's health secretary, was directly involved in heated exchanges attempting to oust Monarez according to sources familiar with the situation. The confrontation reportedly centred on vaccine policy disputes that have become a flashpoint within the administration.
Mass resignations rock CDC
Four senior CDC officials have resigned in protest over the handling of Monarez's firing. The resignations signal growing unrest within the agency as political interference concerns mount among career public health officials.
Leavitt's warning shot to other potential dissenters suggests the White House expects further resistance to Trump's personnel decisions. The press secretary's comments mark an escalation in the administration's rhetoric against federal employees who challenge presidential authority.
Sources used: "Daily Mail", "The Guardian", "The Independent" Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
