Former CDC Director Susan Monarez claims she was fired by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. after refusing to pre-approve the recommendations of a vaccine advisory panel. Kennedy's panel was reportedly filled with people holding anti-vaccine views. Monarez's account, published in the Wall Street Journal, details the reasons for her dismissal. She states she was ousted for upholding evidence-based vaccine recommendations. This op-ed was released before Kennedy's Senate hearing, where he faced scrutiny regarding the CDC's changes. Monarez argues the CDC's credibility relies on its ability to prioritize evidence in its guidance. She believes abandoning evidence undermines public trust in the agency. Kennedy previously defended his changes as a means to restore trust. Monarez accuses Kennedy of undermining the CDC by removing experts and stacking advisory groups with pre-determined outcomes. The Department of Health and Human Services hasn't yet commented on Monarez's claims.