Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. wanted then-CDC director Susan Monarez to pre-approve the recommendations of his handpicked vaccine advisory panel filled with individuals who've expressed anti-vaccine rhetoric, the ousted director wrote in the Wall Street Journal on Thursday.

Why it matters: In the first direct explanation of what led to her ouster last week, Monarez said she was fired for holding the line when it came to supporting evidence-based recommendations on vaccinations. • Her op-ed appeared the morning Kennedy is due to testify at a Senate hearing, where he's expected to face tough questions about the turmoil at the CDC.

What she's saying: "The CDC can't fulfill its obligation to the American people if its leader can't demand proof in decision-making," Monarez wrote. "

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