Back
Politics

President Trump Nominates Dr. Erica Schwartz for CDC Director

Generated on: Last updated: 5 sources
View source

Trump Nominates Dr. Erica Schwartz as Permanent CDC Director

President Donald Trump has nominated Dr. Erica Schwartz to serve as the permanent director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The nomination, announced on Thursday via a post on Trump's Truth Social platform, comes as the agency has operated without a Senate-confirmed leader for over six months.

The announcement was accompanied by several other senior public health appointments recommended by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

The Nomination and Appointees

Dr. Schwartz's nomination will proceed to the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee for a confirmation hearing. She previously served as deputy surgeon general during Trump's first term.

Her background includes:

  • 24 years of service in the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps.
  • Service as a rear admiral in the Coast Guard, where she led disease surveillance and vaccination programs.
  • A medical degree from Brown University and a law degree from the University of Maryland.

In conjunction with the nomination, Secretary Kennedy recommended a slate of other appointees, who were also named on Thursday:

  • Dr. Sara Brenner, Principal Deputy Commissioner of the FDA, will serve as a public health adviser to Secretary Kennedy.
  • Dr. Jennifer Shuford, commissioner of the Texas health department, will become CDC deputy director and chief medical officer.
  • Sean Slovenski, a former Walmart and Humana executive, will serve as a CDC deputy director and chief operating officer.

Context and Statements

The White House was facing a procedural deadline to nominate a permanent director under the federal Vacancies Act. Currently, Dr. Jay Bhattacharya is serving as the head of the CDC while also directing the National Institutes of Health.

Statements from officials included:

President Trump stated on Truth Social, "It is my Honor to nominate the incredibly talented Dr. Erica Schwartz. She is a STAR!"

Secretary Kennedy, speaking at a congressional budget hearing, said, "We're bringing in an extraordinary team... I think this new team is really going to be able to revolutionize CDC and get it back on track."

When asked about morale at the agency, he said it "is much better than it was a year ago."

Recent Challenges at the CDC

The CDC has undergone a period of significant transition and faces several operational challenges:

  • Leadership Turnover: The previous director, Dr. Susan Monarez, was dismissed by Secretary Kennedy in August after refusing to approve changes to vaccine policy. Her dismissal was followed by resignations of several high-level officials.

  • Staffing and Funding: The agency has experienced staff reductions. An analysis by KFF Health News indicated the CDC could lose roughly a quarter of its workforce by the end of 2025 due to cuts and attrition. Congress restored the agency's funding to previous levels in January.

  • Policy and Legal Actions: Secretary Kennedy dismissed a panel of experts that advised the CDC on vaccines, replacing them with his own selections. A federal judge has reversed some of these actions. The Department of Health and Human Services states these changes aim to rebuild public trust in the agency's information, while many in public health contend the methods have created disorder.

  • Security Incident: On August 8, a gunman attacked the CDC's Atlanta headquarters, resulting in the death of DeKalb County Police Officer David Rose before the assailant killed himself.

  • Public Health Data: Measles cases in the U.S. are reported to be at their highest level in three decades, and vaccination rates for some diseases have declined.

Confirmation Process Outlook

Dr. Schwartz's confirmation process may involve questions from senators. According to reporting, she may face inquiries regarding her stance on vaccine policy and whether she would differ from Secretary Kennedy on controversial issues.

The HELP committee has not yet voted on another Trump administration nominee, Dr. Casey Means, for the position of Surgeon General.