Fired health official to testify to Senate committee about chaos in RFK Jr's department live

"Back on Capitol Hill today, we have two hearings that we'll be watching closely, both are due to begin at 10am ET. The fired director of the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) will appear before the Senate health committee following her termination in August. After Susan Monarez was removed from her role, less than a month after she was confirmed to the agency's top position, it set off a wave of resignations from top public health officials."

"One of those experts, Debra Houry, will join Monarez today. Houry was the CDC's chief medical officer prior to stepping down from her post, citing the spread of vaccine misinformation and the interference of politics in the agency's work. A reminder, health secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr sat before the Senate finance committee earlier this month and was grilled about the circumstances around Monarez's firing."

"He claimed that she was lying about her claims that her ousting was the result of refusing to sign off on the secretary's new vaccine policies. Instead, Kennedy said that she was removed because she admitted to being untrustworthy. Meanwhile, in Congress' lower chamber today, FBI director Kash Patel will testify before the House judiciary committee. His second Hill appearance of the week. On Tuesday, Patel sparred with Democratic lawmakers in the Senate about accusations that recent firings within the department were politically motivated."

Two hearings at 10am ET address public health and DOJ oversight. Susan Monarez, the fired CDC director, will appear before the Senate health committee after her August termination soon after confirmation, prompting public health resignations. Debra Houry, the CDC's former chief medical officer who resigned, citing vaccine misinformation and political interference, will join Monarez. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. testified that Monarez lied and was removed for being untrustworthy rather than refusing to sign vaccine policies. In the House, FBI Director Kash Patel will testify regarding politically motivated DOJ firings. A vaccine advisory panel meets Thursday to set Hepatitis B, MMR, and Covid-19 schedules amid controversy over Kennedy's replacement of members.

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