Trump Taps New Nominee For CDC Director After Pulling First Choice

President Donald Trump announced on Monday that he has selected Susan Monarez, the current acting director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, to be the agency’s permanent head.

“I am proud to announce that Dr. Susan Monarez is my Nominee to serve as the next Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC),” Trump wrote on social media. “Dr. Monarez brings decades of experience championing Innovation, Transparency, and strong Public Health Systems.”

The news comes after Trump withdrew his first nominee for the role, Dr. Dave Weldon, just hours before his Senate confirmation hearing that was scheduled earlier this month.

“As an incredible mother and dedicated public servant, Dr. Monarez understands the importance of protecting our children, our communities, and our future,” Trump said. “Americans have lost confidence in the CDC due to political bias and disastrous mismanagement.”

Monarez — who has a Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin and Postdoctoral training in Microbiology and Immunology at Stanford University School of Medicine — will work “closely with our GREAT Secretary of Health and Human Services, Robert Kennedy Jr,” Trump added.

“Together, they will prioritize Accountability, High Standards, and Disease Prevention to finally address the Chronic Disease Epidemic and, MAKE AMERICA HEALTHY AGAIN!” he said.

Trump had tapped Weldon, a former Republican congressman from Florida, to lead the agency in November, but ended up pulling his nomination on March 13th because it was not clear that he was going to have enough Republican support to make it through the confirmation process.

In a lengthy statement, Weldon blamed the pharmaceutical industry for his nomination being tanked, saying that he was viewed “very negatively by the industry” despite using pharmaceuticals “on a daily basis to help my patients.”