In a significant political and public health manoeuvre, California Governor Gavin Newsom has recruited two top scientists who recently departed the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) following conflicts with the Trump administration.
A Direct Response to Federal Policy Shifts
The appointments are a cornerstone of California's newly launched Public Health Network Innovation Exchange (PHNIX). This initiative is explicitly designed to modernise the state's public health infrastructure and act as a countermeasure to what Newsom's administration views as the dismantling of federal safeguards and a rise in vaccine scepticism under President Trump and his Health Secretary, Robert F Kennedy Jr.
Leading PHNIX will be Dr Susan Monarez, the former CDC director who was fired by the Trump administration in August 2025 after less than a month in the top job. Her dismissal followed a reported clash with Secretary Kennedy over vaccine policy. Newsom has also brought on board Dr Debra Houry, the former chief medical officer of the CDC, who resigned in the wake of Monarez's dismissal after a decade of service at the agency.
Expert Testimony and a New Vision
Both Monarez and Houry had previously voiced their professional concerns publicly, testifying before a US Senate hearing in Washington DC on 17 September 2025. Their testimony centred on the sweeping changes to the nation's public health framework being advanced by Secretary Kennedy.
According to the governor's office, PHNIX will concentrate on several critical areas to build a more resilient system. The key focuses will be:
- Technology development for health monitoring and response.
- Modernising information infrastructure to ensure data integrity and access.
- Creating innovative funding frameworks to support public health initiatives.
In an official statement, Governor Newsom said, "The Public Health Network Innovation Exchange is expected to bring together the best science, the best tools, and the best minds to advance public health." He added that by appointing these scientific leaders, California is "strengthening collaboration and laying the groundwork for a modern public health infrastructure that will offer trust and stability in scientific data not just across California, but nationally and globally."
California as a Centre of Resistance
Dr Monarez will serve as PHNIX's strategic health technology and funding adviser, while Dr Houry takes on the role of senior regional and global public health medical adviser. These high-profile appointments further cement Governor Newsom's position as one of Donald Trump's most prominent critics.
Since Trump's return to office, Newsom has enacted a series of measures opposing the administration's direction. This includes an executive order signed in March 2025 to facilitate the hiring of federal employees laid off in mass firings. California has also bolstered its role through alliances like the West Coast Health Alliance and the Governors Public Health Alliance.
This move comes as Governor Newsom, whose term ends in 2027, is widely speculated to be considering a bid for the White House in 2028. He has stated, however, that he will delay any formal decision until after the 2026 midterm elections.
