The White House on Thursday said President Donald Trump has fired Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Susan Monarez after she refused to resign.

Hours later, NBC News reported the White House had tapped Jim O'Neill , deputy secretary of the Health and Human Services department, to serve as acting director of the CDC. O'Neill was sworn in as deputy secretary in June, and is a key aide to HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

The temporary appointment suggests that Kennedy could have a clearer path to make changes to U.S. immunization policy, particularly after Monarez had refused some of his requests. The permanent replacement for Monarez will have to be confirmed by the Senate.

During a briefing on Thursday, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Trump f

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