Susan Monarez Becomes First CDC Director Without a Medical Degree in 72 Years

Monarez also becomes the first Senate-confirmed leader of the agency.

The U.S. Senate today held a recorded vote to confirm one individual nominated by President Donald Trump to serve in the executive branch of government - specifically in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services led by Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. since February 2025.

In a 51-47 vote, Susan Monarez was confirmed as Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The position has been held by two separate acting officials since January 2025, when Mandy Cohen resigned after serving since July 2023.

51 Republicans approved Monarez’s nomination. All 45 Democrats and two Independents voted in opposition. Senators Bill Hagerty (R-TN) and Dan Sullivan (R-AK) did not vote.

Monarez was nominated to this position by Trump in March 2025. In January 2025, she was hired as the Principal Deputy Director of the CDC. From that position, she was also Acting CDC Director and Acting Administrator of the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry until March 2025.

Monarez completed her Ph.D. at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and was a postdoctoral researcher at the Stanford University School of Medicine. She then held various roles at the Office of Science and Technology Policy, the U.S. National Security Council, and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. In January 2023, she was appointed Deputy Director of the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health.

Notably, Monarez becomes the first Senate-confirmed CDC Director. Previously, the position was filled solely by presidential appointment. Moreover, she becomes the first director without a medical degree since 1953.