Nine former CDC directors and interim directors wrote an open letter in The New York Times condemning the leadership of HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. They said his actions, including the firing of Dr. Susan Monarez as director of the CDC threatens US public health.[1] Dismissal of Dr. Monarez led to the resignations of several senior CDC officials.[1] Former directors praised Dr. Monarez for defending the agency and the health of communities.[1] They say the loss of these leaders will make it harder for the CDC to fulfill its 80-year mission of protecting Americans from health threats.[1] They called on Congress to conduct oversight of HHS.[1] Senator Bill Cassidy, who chairs the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, called on HHS to immediately postpone the vaccine advisory committee meeting scheduled for September 18 due to the CDC departures.[1] Cassidy emphasized that this is about protecting children's health and it requires radical transparency.[1]