Rochelle Walensky resigns from CDC

Rochelle Walensky, current Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, announced yesterday she is resigning, effective June 30.

Rochelle Walensky out

The CDC Director, in service since January 20, 2021, sent a letter to President Biden announcing her resignation, according to CBS News. In it she took note of the upcoming expiration of the COVID-19 national emergency.

The end of the COVID-19 public health emergency marks a tremendous transition for our country, for public health, and in my tenure as CDC Director.

The White House, on April 10, terminated the national emergency, effective May 11. They did so to invalidate “Title 42,” the emergency medical quarantine for illegal aliens. At the same time, the World Health Organization has also declared the COVID pandemic over.

[COVID-19 is] an established and ongoing health issue which no longer constitutes a public health emergency of international concern.

The President sent out a press release yesterday praising Rochelle Walensky for her performance.

Dr. Walensky has saved lives with her steadfast and unwavering focus on the health of every American. As Director of the CDC, she led a complex organization on the front lines of a once-in-a-generation pandemic with honesty and integrity. Dr. Walensky leaves CDC a stronger institution, better positioned to confront health threats and protect Americans.

However, Dr. Walensky’s tenure has definitely been controversial. The Blaze especially criticized her severely. Early in her tenure she claimed that vaccinated people “don’t get sick.” That turned out not to be the case, and lately the chief vaccine maker, Pfizer, stood accused of making mutant strains to keep their “market.” She also recommended boosters, despite warnings against them from an advisory panel. Today the CDC no longer recommends more than one shot total. Recently, critics accused her of colluding with Randi Weingarten, head of the American Federation of Teachers, to keep schools closed. Children’s academic performance has suffered, and they are still trying to “catch up.”

For those reasons and more, the public trusts the CDC less than at any time in recent history. Rochelle Walensky tried vainly to regain that trust with a reorganization of her agency.

Succession

No one knows yet who will succeed her. The President can appoint an Interim Director who will last until January 20, 2025. Such an Interim Director would not require Senate confirmation.