SAT . After Vaccine Showdown With Trump, Ousted CDC Chiefs Get New Power Roles in California
California Pushes Back: Newsom Appoints Ousted CDC Scientists After Vaccine Clash With Trump Administration
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — California Governor Gavin Newsom on Monday announced the appointment of two high-profile public health scientists who recently departed the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention following disputes with the Trump administration over vaccine policy.
Former CDC director Dr. Susan Monarez has been selected to lead California’s newly created Public Health Network Innovation Exchange (PHNIX), an initiative designed to modernize and strengthen the state’s public health infrastructure. Monarez was removed from her position at the CDC in August, less than a month after taking office, after clashing with Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. over the administration’s approach to vaccines.
In a second notable move, Newsom also appointed Dr. Debra Houry, the CDC’s longtime chief medical officer, who stepped down after more than a decade at the agency following Monarez’s dismissal.
A Sharp Contrast With Federal Policy
The appointments signal a clear contrast between California’s public health priorities and the direction of the Trump administration’s health leadership. Both Monarez and Houry appeared before Congress in September, where they raised alarms about Secretary Kennedy’s vaccine policies and broader structural changes underway within the U.S. public health system.
During the hearing, the two scientists warned that political interference in vaccine policy could undermine public trust and weaken the nation’s ability to respond to future health crises.
Governor Newsom framed their recruitment as a commitment to science-driven policy.
“California will continue to lead with evidence, expertise, and transparency,” Newsom said in a statement. “We are proud to bring in leaders who are willing to speak up for public health, even when it’s difficult.”
What PHNIX Will Do
The new Public Health Network Innovation Exchange is expected to serve as a statewide hub for:
- Data-driven disease surveillance
- Vaccine education and outreach
- Rapid-response coordination during public health emergencies
- Collaboration between state, local, and academic health institutions
Officials say the program aims to position California as a national leader in public health innovation at a time when federal policies remain deeply contested.
Political and Public Reaction
Supporters of the move praised Newsom for standing behind experienced scientists who they say were pushed out for challenging controversial vaccine positions. Critics, however, argue the appointments politicize public health and further deepen partisan divides over vaccines and federal authority.
Regardless, the decision places California squarely at the center of the ongoing national debate over science, politics, and the future of public health governance in the United States.
