New Delhi, Aug. 28 -- Susan Monarez is refusing to vacate her position as director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) after the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced she had been removed less than a month after being sworn in.

Attorneys Mark Zaid and Abbe Lowell, who are representing Monarez, issued a statement rejecting the HHS declaration.

"She has neither resigned nor yet been fired," the attorneys said.

They argued that the move was politically motivated.

"When CDC Director Susan Monarez refused to rubber-stamp unscientific, reckless directives and fire dedicated health experts, she chose protecting the public over serving a political agenda," the statement read. "For that, she has been targe...