(WASHINGTON) — Susan Monarez, the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), is refusing to resign from her position despite pressure from the Trump administration. Her lawyers announced Wednesday evening that she would remain in her role, asserting that her commitment to public health has made her a target for removal.

Monarez's legal team, Mark Zaid and Abbe Lowell, stated, "When CDC Director Susan Monarez refused to rubber-stamp unscientific, reckless directives and fire dedicated health experts, she chose protecting the public over serving a political agenda. For that, she has been targeted."

The conflict escalated following demands from Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and his deputy, Stefanie Spear, for Monarez to endorse changes to COVID-19 vaccine policies and to dismiss senior staff members. Monarez did not agree to these requests, leading to an announcement from HHS that she was "no longer director" of the CDC. This declaration prompted several high-level resignations from CDC officials in protest.

Kennedy, speaking on Fox News, refrained from commenting directly on Monarez but emphasized the need to reassess the CDC's priorities. He stated, "It would be inappropriate for me to comment on a personnel issue. What I will say is President Trump has very, very ambitious hopes for what for CDC right now. CDC has problems."

In response to the turmoil, the White House confirmed Monarez's termination late Wednesday. Spokesperson Kush Desai stated, "As her attorney’s statement makes abundantly clear, Susan Monarez is not aligned with the President’s agenda of Making America Healthy Again."

Monarez's lawyers countered that her appointment by President Trump, which required Senate confirmation, means only he can dismiss her. They labeled the termination notification as "legally deficient" and asserted that she remains the CDC Director.

Monarez was confirmed just four weeks ago and is the second nominee for the position after the first, Dave Weldon, failed to secure enough Senate votes due to his vaccine skepticism. During her confirmation hearing, Monarez expressed strong support for vaccines, stating, "I think vaccines save lives. I think that we need to continue to support the promotion of utilization of vaccines."

Recently, Kennedy has implemented significant changes to vaccine policies, particularly regarding COVID-19 vaccines, which could restrict access. Earlier on Wednesday, the FDA, under Kennedy's direction, limited the approval of updated vaccines to adults aged 65 and older and younger individuals with specific health conditions. This marks a shift from previous guidance that recommended vaccination for everyone aged six months and older.

The FDA's decision will be reviewed by the CDC later this month, where Monarez would have had a role in the discussion, alongside a newly appointed committee of advisers chosen by Kennedy.

In March, Kennedy also altered the pediatric vaccine schedule, allowing parents to make vaccination decisions for their children against COVID-19 with their doctor's advice. He has defended these changes as promoting "science, safety, and common sense."

Following the announcement of Monarez's departure, four other senior officials at the CDC resigned, citing the changing policies. Deb Houry, the Chief Medical Officer, and Demetre Daskalakis, Director of the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, were among those who stepped down. Daskalakis expressed in his resignation email, "I am not able to serve in this role any longer because of the ongoing weaponizing of public health."

Houry, who has served under both Democratic and Republican administrations, stated, "The science at CDC should never be censored or subject to political pauses or interpretations." She added, "I am committed to protecting the public’s health, but the ongoing changes prevent me from continuing in my job as a leader of the agency. This is a heartbreaking decision that I make with a heavy heart."

Republican Senator Bill Cassidy, who oversees HHS, has pledged to investigate the recent high-profile resignations. This wave of departures occurs during a challenging period for the CDC, following a recent shooting incident at its Atlanta campus linked to grievances over the COVID-19 vaccine.