Dr. Erica Schwartz confirmed as CDC director, filling a leadership vacuum
The U.S. Senate has confirmed Dr. Erica Schwartz as the new director of the CDC following a year-long leadership vacancy. Her confirmation comes amid internal agency turmoil and ongoing public health challenges, including various disease outbreaks.
Why it matters
The appointment is a critical step in stabilizing the nation's primary public health agency during a period of political tension and administrative turnover.
The U.S. Senate confirmed Dr. Erica Schwartz as director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly a year after the last permanent director was fired in a dispute over vaccine policy with Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Health A leadership vacuum adds to strains on the CDC The vote on Schwartz's nomination was 51-44 in favor.
She will take command of a public health agency that has lost thousands of employees in the second Trump administration amid layoffs, resignations and leadership shakeups.
The CDC is currently responding to surges in measles cases, cyclosporiasis outbreaks and an Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda.
In a July confirmation hearing, Sen. Bill Cassidy led some Republicans in hard questions about vaccines and whether she would support their use if pressured by Kennedy.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in