Trump Fires CDC Director. She’s Refusing to Leave.

President Donald Trump wants to fire Federal Reserve Gov. Lisa Cook and discussed a potential replacement during a cabinet meeting on Aug. 26, 2025 in Washington, DC. Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention director Susan Monarez has refused to step down after the White House said it had fired her late Wednesday.

Monarez’s counsel said she will not resign, marking the second high profile case of the Trump administration attempting to fire a government appointed official, only to be met with resistance.

“Dr. Monarez has neither resigned nor yet been fired,” said her counsel Mark S. Zaid. “As a presidential appointee, senate confirmed officer, only the president himself can fire her.” She was targeted for protecting the public and not rubber-stamping ”unscientific” orders, Zaid, added.

It follows the Department of Health and Human Services posting on social media Wednesday that Monarez is no longer a director at the CDC.

“Since Susan Monarez refused to resign, despite informing HHS leadership of her intent to do so, the White House has terminated Monarez from her position with the CDC,” said White House spokesman Kush Desai, The Wall Street Journal reported.

The development comes just days after President Donald Trump said he had fired Federal Reserve Gov. Lisa Cook over allegations of mortgage fraud. Cook’s lawyer Abbe David Lowell, who is also representing Monarez, said Trump had no authority to remove Cook from her position and that she will not step down.

Write to Elsa Ohlen at elsa.ohlen@barrons.com