President Donald Trump announced Thursday his selection of Erica Schwartz, who previously served as deputy surgeon general, to lead the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Trump praised his nominee in a social media announcement, calling Schwartz “incredibly talented” and declaring, “She is a STAR!”
The federal health agency, headquartered in Atlanta and responsible for safeguarding Americans against preventable health risks, has experienced significant leadership instability since Trump’s return to the presidency over a year ago, cycling through multiple temporary directors.
Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. oversees the agency and had initially pledged to maintain current vaccination schedules. However, after assuming his role, Kennedy announced plans to examine childhood vaccination protocols and attempted major changes to pediatric vaccine guidelines. A federal judge recently halted some of these initiatives.
The administration’s initial choice for CDC leadership was former Florida Representative Dr. David Weldon, but his scheduled March 2025 Senate confirmation hearing was abruptly cancelled just one hour beforehand. Weldon explained he was informed that insufficient senators supported his nomination.
The White House subsequently turned to Susan Monarez, who had been fulfilling the role as acting director. While the Senate confirmed Monarez, she was removed from the position within a month. Administration officials stated her removal was due to misalignment with their policy objectives.
Multiple senior CDC scientists stepped down in objection, explaining that Monarez’s firing destroyed their confidence that a CDC director could protect the agency’s scientific work and health guidance from political interference.
Following this period, the agency has experienced constant leadership changes, with various Washington-based Health and Human Services officials temporarily filling the acting director position. National Institutes of Health Director Jay Bhattacharya has supervised the CDC in recent weeks.
During Thursday’s House Appropriations Committee session, Kennedy praised the incoming CDC team as “extraordinary.”
“I think this new team is really going to be able to revolutionize CDC and get it back on track,” he said.
This nomination announcement coincides with confirmation challenges facing Dr. Casey Means, Trump’s selection for U.S. surgeon general, another significant health leadership position.
Means’ stalled confirmation process following her February hearing demonstrates the bipartisan congressional concerns regarding Kennedy’s departmental direction.
