They questioned whether he would keep his earlier promise that he wouldn’t block vaccines for Americans who wanted them. Monarez was nominated by President Donald Trump, endorsed for the job by Kennedy and confirmed by a Senate vote in July. Later in the hearing, Kennedy acknowledged that he’d told Monarez to fire several senior CDC officials. Throughout the hearing, Kennedy accused the agency’s scientists of failing to combat chronic disease and making unsound recommendations during the pandemic. Throughout the hearing, a resolute Kennedy accused senators of lying, misrepresenting his agency and making little sense.