Trump taps Monarez for CDC

President Trump found his next CDC nominee. The White House yanked his first pick, former congressman Dave Weldon, out of the running hours before his Senate confirmation hearing when it became clear he didn't have the votes. This choice, acting director Susan Monarez, has largely flown under the radar — and not talked about vaccines.

Monarez has a long track record of biosecurity work, stretching back to the George W. Bush administration and the then-nascent BARDA. That's comforted some former health officials who spoke to STAT about her nomination.

"Americans have lost confidence in the CDC due to political bias and disastrous mismanagement," Trump said in a post on the social media site Truth Social announcing Monarez. More from me and Helen Branswell.

at the agencies

NIH cuts continue

Prominent outside scientists who help the NIH evaluate its internal research programs are being abruptly removed, according to five advisers whose positions were terminated and a recording of an internal meeting obtained by STAT's Megan Molteni and Jason Mast.

Among those being terminated are non-U.S. citizens, women, scientists from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups, and individuals whose research focus or other work touches on areas the new administration considers taboo, such as diversity and equity.

The removals come amid a chaotic shakeup at the agency, and against the backdrop of a broader attempt by the Trump administration to align health agencies with the president's views on DEI, gender, immigration, and other issues. Read more.

research funding

The 'devastating' blow to cancer research under Trump

For decades, cancer held a near-sacred spot in the American biomedical enterprise, commanding the lion's share of research dollars and support from both Democrats and Republicans. Now, not even cancer is protected from political change, STAT's Angus Chen writes.

More than a dozen people in the cancer field told STAT that government and congressional actions since President Trump's inauguration are threatening treatment for cancer patients and the development of new therapies or cures. Between cuts, delays, and policy changes to science, the community is bracing for impact.

Even the Cancer Moonshot — President Biden's flagship initiative to slash cancer rates — was flagged as a "controversial" term at NIH. More from Angus.

at the fda

ICYMI: Former FDA commissioner has words for HHS

First Trump administration FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb criticized the health department's approach to containing the deadly measles outbreak, and its plan to improve the infant formula supply, during the STAT Breakthrough Summit East last week.

Gottlieb called out Kennedy's "extremely damaging" response to the measles outbreak, echoing other comments from former officials, like past CDC director Tom Frieden, during the event.

He also had choice words for the newly launched HHS effort to improve American infant formula, dubbed Operation Stork Speed: "You see some of the dialogue coming out of this, and you'd think they discovered fire." More from Lizzy Lawrence.

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What we're reading

Opinion: In the wake of measles outbreaks, vaccine guidelines must be updated, STAT
Health benefits company co-founded by Dr. Oz could be a conflict of interest, The Washington Post
Lawmakers are pushing the HALT Fentanyl Act; Experts warn it will fall short, STAT
The Colorado psychedelic mushroom experiment has arrived, KFF Health News