Welcome to the News Hour. There are serious concerns tonight about the Centers for Disease Control and its mission after director Susan Menares was suddenly fired from her position on Wednesday. She had refused to resign amid clashes with health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. over vaccine policy.

Menares, an infectious disease researcher, was sworn in less than a month ago and had quickly

clashed with Kennedy over the handling of the agency.

In a statement, her lawyer said, quote, when she refused to rubber stamp unscientific, reckless

directives and fired dedicated health experts, she chose protecting the public over serving

a political agenda. For that, she's been

targeted. Her dismissal set off a wave of resignations with several other senior CDC officials

stepping down in protest. That includes the chief medical officer, Dr. Deborah Howry,

who was met with applause and hugs from supporters and staff outside the CDC building today.

And Dr. Howie joins me now from Atlanta.

Welcome to the program.

Thanks for joining us.

Thanks for having me.

So let's just start with your decision.

Why did you feel the need to resign?

It was such a tough decision.

I love the CDC.

The work we do is so important, but I just felt we'd

reached a tipping point when it came to our science and our data and being able to do the work

we needed to do. I was concerned about the future of CDC and my ability to be a leader at the

CDC and to do what was needed to be done on the inside. I thought my voice

and the voice of my colleagues that also resigned with me will be more powerful on the outside.

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