On Thursday, President Trump announced the nomination of Erica Schwartz as the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This position has largely been filled on a temporary or part-time basis during Trump’s second administration. Schwartz, a seasoned public health official, served as the deputy surgeon general in Trump’s first administration and has a long career in health roles within the U.S. military.
Schwartz holds board certification in preventive medicine. She earned her medical degree from Brown University in 1998 and completed a Master of Public Health at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in 2000. Additionally, she possesses a law degree and is admitted to the bar in the District of Columbia.
Throughout her career, Schwartz has worked extensively in the U.S. Navy and Coast Guard, including serving as the Coast Guard’s chief of preventive medicine. She also played a role in the Trump administration’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic.
David Mansdoerfer, a former senior official at the Department of Health and Human Services during the first Trump administration, praised Schwartz’s understanding of the CDC’s culture and her experience with commissioned corps officers. He described her as a “great pick” and highlighted her collaboration with high-level White House officials.
Jerome Adams, the surgeon general during Trump’s first term, echoed these sentiments on the social media platform X, where he noted that he had personally chosen Schwartz as his deputy. Adams described her as a “battle-tested leader” with extensive public service experience, including her role as a Rear Admiral in the U.S. Public Health Service and Coast Guard. He emphasized her expertise, credibility, and integrity, expressing confidence in her ability to lead the CDC effectively. Adams added that if she can follow the science without political interference, she will excel.
However, some have expressed concerns about Schwartz’s potential appointment. Debra Houry, the former CDC chief medical officer who resigned last August following the dismissal of the previous director Susan Monarez, pointed out that Schwartz would still have to report to health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., known for his critical stance on vaccines and the CDC. Houry questioned what had changed, given Monarez’s inability to make staffing or policy decisions under Kennedy’s leadership.
In addition to nominating Schwartz, Trump announced the appointments of Sean Slovenski, former president of Walmart Health & Wellness, as CDC deputy director and chief operating officer, Jennifer Shuford, Texas state health commissioner, as deputy director and chief medical officer, and Sara Brenner, principal deputy commissioner at the Food and Drug Administration, as senior counselor for public health to Kennedy.
Schwartz’s confirmation in the Senate remains uncertain, though her extensive background as a physician with federal service experience is likely to be well-received by lawmakers. Her apparent lack of opposition to vaccinations may facilitate her confirmation, despite the ongoing conflict between Kennedy’s vaccine stance and many senators.
This nomination comes at a sensitive time for health and human services leadership roles. Some Senate Republicans are hesitant to confirm Casey Means as surgeon general due to her indecisive stance on vaccines and the fact that she is not a practicing physician.
Schwartz’s nomination also comes amid a complex political landscape. The Make America Healthy Again movement, which backs Kennedy, has seen its influence fluctuate this year. The White House is urging health and human services to shift focus from divisive vaccine issues to topics more popular with voters, such as food safety and drug pricing. This shift has frustrated some MAHA supporters who want continued emphasis on vaccine safety.
On Thursday, some MAHA advocates, including vaccine injury lawyer Aaron Siri, criticized Schwartz’s nomination. On X, Siri described the choice as a “disaster” and criticized Schwartz’s role in the White House’s Covid response, arguing that the agency needs a regulator rather than an industry advocate.
Meanwhile, Republican lawmakers are considering how much to challenge parts of Trump’s agenda. If confirmed, Schwartz would be the second full-time director of the CDC during this term, following Monarez, who was dismissed after resisting Kennedy’s vaccine-related demands. Her brief tenure included a shooting incident at the agency’s main campus.
Jay Bhattacharya, director of the National Institutes of Health, has been serving as the acting CDC director since mid-February, following the removal of former acting director Jim O’Neill as HHS deputy secretary. However, Bhattacharya cannot officially use the acting director title due to restrictions set by the Federal Vacancies Reform Act.
Trump’s initial nominee, former Florida congressman Dave Weldon, had his candidacy withdrawn when it became apparent he lacked the necessary Senate votes. The Senate health committee, chaired by Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.), a physician and proponent of vaccination, will play a crucial role in Schwartz’s confirmation process.
