Senate Confirms Erica Schwartz as CDC Director

The U.S. Senate approved Dr. Erica Schwartz as director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention by a 51-44 margin on Wednesday. Schwartz, a former deputy surgeon general and retired U.S. Coast Guard officer, becomes the first Black woman to lead the agency.

CNN

The CDC has been without a permanent director for roughly a year. Dr. Susan Monarez was removed less than a month after her appointment following a clash with Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. over vaccine policy. Kennedy then installed his deputy secretary, Jim O’Neill, as interim head, but O’Neill’s limited presence in Atlanta and perceived communication shortcomings led senior officials to lose confidence in him. Subsequently, the agency was overseen by Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, who also serves as director of the National Institutes of Health.

CNN

• Dr. Erica Schwartz – Former deputy surgeon-general; retired Coast Guard officer; nominated in April.

CNN

• Sen. Bill Cassidy – Chairman of the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee; voiced concerns about agency independence before ultimately supporting Schwartz.

CNN

• Robert F. Kennedy Jr. – HHS Secretary who directed the earlier leadership changes.

CNN

• Jim O’Neill – Former deputy secretary, interim CDC head.

CNN

• Dr. Jay Bhattacharya – NIH director who temporarily oversaw CDC operations.

CNN

Sen. Cassidy explained that his vote for Schwartz came after multiple discussions with senior HHS officials regarding the removal of a claim linking vaccines to autism from the CDC website and planned personnel changes. He emphasized that any suggestion of a vaccine-autism link is incorrect and that the cause of autism remains unknown, citing repeated studies. HHS officials confirmed that the website wording was edited to reflect that position, noting that further revisions may follow.

CNN

• Confirmation vote: 51-44 in favor.

CNN

• Schwartz’s tenure marks the first time a Black woman has headed the CDC.

CNN

• The agency has been leaderless for approximately twelve months, spanning three interim leaders.

CNN