In a first, the Senate confirms a new CDC director

After months without an official leader amid staffing cuts and disease outbreaks, the Senate confirmed Susan Monarez as the new director of the CDC in a 51-47 party‑line vote. Monarez, a health scientist and longtime civil servant, is the first Senate‑confirmed CDC director under a 2023 law and the first non‑medical degree holder in the role in over 70 years. She takes charge of an agency struggling with staff losses and budget cuts, with President Trump proposing further funding reductions for 2026, NPR has reported. Monarez, a trained microbiologist and immunologist, previously served as acting CDC director and deputy director of ARPA‑H.