Why is Monarez being ousted as CDC director?
Jim O'Neill has been chosen to serve as acting director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a source familiar with the matter confirmed Thursday — one day after the CDC's Senate-confirmed leader was ousted.
O'Neill currently serves as deputy secretary of Health and Human Services, working under HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
He will take over the CDC after a tumultuous 24 hours for the Atlanta-based public health agency. Susan Monarez was terminated by the White House after just weeks on the job Wednesday, leading her lawyers to argue that only President Trump can lawfully fire her. They also allege Monarez was "targeted" for resisting "unscientific, reckless directives."
Several other top CDC leaders also resigned, in some cases criticizing the Trump administration's views on vaccines or cuts to the agency.
This is a breaking story and will be updated.
Aaron Navarro is a CBS News digital reporter covering the 2024 elections. He was previously an associate producer for the CBS News political unit in the 2021 and 2022 election cycles.
