A Vegan in a Steakhouse? What’s Going On with Secretary Kennedy’s CDC Director Pick?
Dr. Susan Monarez, a strong supporter of pandemic-era policies, is now Acting CDC Director under Secretary Kennedy. With a public record backing masks, lockdowns, and shots, many are asking: is this reform—or just more of the same in a different wrapper?
Let’s not pretend this isn’t weird.
When Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. stepped into his role at the Department of Health, it sparked real hope for change. After years of masks, lockdowns, rushed shots, and nonstop pressure, people were ready for leadership that would finally call out the damage and move in a new direction.
Then came the news—via an article from Malone.News—that Dr. Susan Monarez has been named Acting Director of the CDC and is expected to be formally nominated.
That’s where eyebrows started to rise.
Who Is Dr. Monarez?
Credentials? No doubt. She’s got a PhD in microbiology and immunology. Trained at Stanford. Held high-ranking positions in health security, including work with BARDA, the Department of Homeland Security, and most recently ARPA-H.
She’s not new to the system. She is the system.
And that’s where things get complicated.
The Track Record That’s Hard to Ignore
Dr. Monarez hasn’t said much lately, but her public posts during the pandemic years are still there.
She tweeted that masks reduce infection risk by more than 80%.
She proudly posted after getting the COVID shot, praising it as the best way to prevent serious illness.
There’s no sign she opposed the lockdowns, mandates, or emergency-use rollouts that so many are still trying to recover from.
These aren’t small footnotes. These are major positions—especially when you’re about to lead the CDC.
Doesn’t Feel Like Reform
Secretary Kennedy built his reputation on pushing back against exactly those things. He questioned the rushed science, the censorship, the revolving door between pharma and government. That’s why people who’ve been burned by “the science” rallied behind him.
Now the CDC might be led by someone who supported the exact same playbook?
That’s like promising a new direction—then putting the same GPS back on the dashboard.
Or, more bluntly: it’s like hiring a vegan to run a steakhouse.
Maybe There’s a Bigger Plan
Let’s be fair. There are a few possibilities here:
- Dr. Monarez might’ve shifted her views—and just hasn’t said it yet.
- Maybe this is a transitional move—someone who knows how to manage the machine while it’s being reworked.
- Or maybe it’s political chess, where reform isn’t as straightforward as people hoped.
All of those are possible. But they don’t erase what’s already out there. If nothing has changed in her beliefs, then this nomination doesn’t line up with what the movement stood for.
Final Thought
People followed Kennedy because he gave them hope that the broken system would finally get cleaned up—not patched up.
And people remember who pushed the policies that hurt them—who clapped for mandates, backed lockdowns, and told them to trust the rollout “because science.”
Dr. Monarez may still surprise us. But until there’s clarity, this looks more like maintenance than reform.
And when people were promised real change, maintenance isn’t enough.
Disclaimer: This article is based on publicly available information, verified sources, and the author's independent analysis and opinion. It is not intended to defame, mislead, or misrepresent any individual, organization, or public official. Readers are encouraged to think critically and verify facts independently.
