On July 31, 2025, President Donald Trump’s nominee for Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Director, Dr. Susan Monarez, was sworn in by Secretary Kennedy. The Senate confirmed her nomination on July 29, 2025, by a vote of 51-47. The Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee previously approved her nomination by a vote of 12-11 on July 25, 2025. During her confirmation hearing, Dr. Monarez, a microbiologist and former deputy director at the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H), emphasized the importance of science-based public health communication and vaccination. 

An HHS press release on Dr. Monarez’s confirmation can be found here. 

Impact on General Dentistry: The CDC’s position on preventive health measures, including community water fluoridation, can impact public perception and policy decisions related to oral health. Dr. Monarez’s confirmation could play a key role in guiding public health strategies and disease prevention efforts that have implications for general dentists.