Dr. Erica Schwartz confirmed as CDC director following monthslong vacancy
The Senate on Wednesday confirmed Dr.Erica Schwartz as director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, placing her in charge of a public health agency beleaguered by political meddling and low morale.Schwartz was confirmed in a 51-44 vote.
The 54-year-old becomes the 22nd leader of the Atlanta-based CDC, which is charged with protecting Americans from preventable health threats, and the agency’s first confirmed director in nearly a year.Her resume includes medical and law degrees, a stint as deputy surgeon general, and a leadership position at the U.S.
Coast Guard.Schwartz’s nomination appeared to be on shaky ground after a hearing before the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee last month.The chairman, Sen.
Bill Cassidy, R-La., and others questioned whether she would be willing to stand up to Republican President Donald Trump’s health secretary, Robert F.Kennedy Jr., if he ordered CDC to do something unsupported by science and good public health practice.But weeks later, Cassidy said he had spoken with Schwartz after that hearing and with others who knew her, and said he had gained confidence in her.The CDC has been in turmoil since Trump returned to office last year.Largely due to layoffs and resignations, the agency has lost 3,000-plus employees, more than one-quarter of its workforce.
Morale has plummeted as a succession of mostly temporary leaders have come and gone.The front office has been staffed by political appointees with little or no training in medicine or public health.When Schwartz was nominated in April, public health experts were cautiously optimistic, citing her background.
They also noted Schwartz was the choice of Trump and not Kennedy, who is a leading voice in the anti-vaccine movement before he was tapped to oversee the CDC and other federal health agencies.Schwartz was the third Trump nominee for CDC director in the past 18 months.Morning Report delivers the latest news, videos, photos and more...