Susan Monales, a candidate for President Donald Trump, testifies at a confirmation hearing in front of the US Senate Senate Committee on June 25, 2025 (Photo: Kayla Bartkowski/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON – Members of the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions appealed to President Donald Trump’s candidate Wednesday to lead the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Vaccine Recommendations after the health and welfare secretary fired members of a key vaccine panel this month.

Trump’s Pick, former acting CDC director Susan Monales said he trusts the vaccine while defending Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s decision this month. All 17 members will be fired We recommend the Advisory Committee on Vaccination Practices, or the ACIP, and eight new members.

“Part of the secretary’s vision in restoring public trust is to help Americans gain confidence in the way evidence and the way science drives decision-making,” she told the senators.

Seven members of the panel (one dropped out this week) will meet Wednesday and Thursday to review the data and vote for new vaccine recommendations. This recommendation has considerable weight as it uses federal health programs like insurance providers and Medicaid to determine whether shots are covered and whether schools rely on vaccination orders.

Cassidy’s Questions

Louisiana Sen. Bill Cassidy, who chairs the committee, said he is worried about ACIP, particularly as non-CDC staff will present to the committee about thimerosal, a mercury-based preservative. The panel is expected to vote for approval of influenza shots containing the compound.

Lynn Redwood, former head of Child Health Defense, an anti-vaccine group founded by Kennedy, has given a presentation claiming that thimerosal causes autism. CDC’s own research shows That thimeromonkey does not cause autism.

Cassidy said Monales is not involved in this week’s ACIP meeting or the agenda, but “if today’s ACIP hearing is used for mistrust, we will make sure there is a balanced perspective going forward.”

“Yes, someone can talk about it as a critic, but there must be someone who is reviewing the overwhelming evidence of vaccine safety,” said Cassidy, a doctor.

Monales, who was the agency’s representative director from January to March, said he trusted the vaccine and that vaccinations were important to save lives.

If Monares was confirmed by the Senate, she would be the first director of the CDC without a medical degree in nearly 70 years. She has a PhD. Microbiology and immunology.

More Concerns about Vaccine Panels

Cassidy wasn’t just the Republicans on the panel who were concerned about the layoffs of all ACIP members.

Alaska Republican Sen. Lisa Markowski said she is worried about the background of the seven new panelists.

“I hope that one of the things you’re all looking for is to make sure these individuals see the science before them, and leave their political bias home,” Murkowski said.

Washington Democrat Patty Murray and Maryland Angela also sought out Monales about Kennedy’s actions in firing everyone on the panel.

Murray asked whether a new member of the panel would listen to its recommendations and whether a new member of the panel voted not to recommend a vaccine.

Monales avoided the question, saying that roles in ACIP are difficult to fill and that members must go through the ethics process.

“If they go through the ethics approval process, they shouldn’t be in the meeting,” she said.

Brooks also asked Monarez if he believed the 17 members fired from ACIP were ineligible.

Monales did not answer the question, but said Kennedy’s “resetting ACIP into a new cohort would be on the path to restoring public trust.”

Grant funds and layoffs

The senator also raised concerns about the cancelled grants, despite Congress already approved the funds.

Maine GOP Sen. Susan Collins, chair of the Senate Committee’s Approvals Committee, said her state suffers from high levels of Lyme disease, which resulted in the vaccine being in work at Maine’s labs.

“This vaccine is extremely promising and I want to make sure it is allowed to continue its conclusion,” Collins said.

Monares agreed and said that if she is confirmed, she will work specifically to ensure funding for the vaccine continues.

“It’s ironic that our dogs can get a vaccine to protect them from tick-borne diseases like Lyme disease, but we humans can’t.

Sen. Tim Kane, a Democrat of Virginia, pressed Monales on the removal of smoking and health offices at the CDC. He asked if he was involved in firing all staff in April, the month after her brief stint when the proxy supervision was over.

“After I left, I wasn’t in the (layoffs),” she said.

Fluoride in water

Brooks also forced Monales to stop the halt of Kennedy’s propulsion, which the CDC recommends placing low levels of fluoride in public drinking water.

Fluoride is added to drinking water, which helps prevent tooth decay, tooth decay and other dental health issues.

Brooks also asked if public water supply containing fluoride is safe in Potomac, Maryland, where Monares lives.

“I think water in Potomac, Maryland is safe,” Monales said.