President Trump and Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. are facing pressure over the Trump administration’s decision to shakeup leadership at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
After four senior leaders resigned in the wake of CDC Director Susan Monarez’s ouster, critics question what the move means for vaccine policy going forward. The turmoil comes as Kennedy is expected to testify on Capitol Hill next week on the administration’s health agenda.
The White House and Kennedy are defending the move. Deputy HHS Secretary Jim O’Neill was tapped on Thursday to serve as acting director of CDC.
When lawmakers return to Washington after Labor Day, their focus will largely be on the government shutdown clock with a Sept. 30 deadline to pass legislation or face a lapse in funding. Democrats will be met with a critical choice in how much they want to work with their colleagues to keep the lights on.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries (N.Y.) have already pressed the GOP to schedule bipartisan talks to discuss the path forward.
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