Dr. Schwartz previously served as the chief medical officer of the U.S Coast Guard and later as deputy surgeon general of the United States. Finn Gomez/Getty Images
CDC gets a new chief as agency faces questions over its direction
The Senate narrowly confirmed Dr. Erica Schwartz to lead the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention following a confirmation fight centered on vaccines and the future of federal public health policy.
Dr. Erica Schwartz will be the next director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, after the Senate confirmed her nomination Wednesday.
The Senate confirmed, 51-44, President Donald Trump’s pick to lead the national public health agency within the Department of Health and Human Services, which has taken heat over the vaccine-skeptical agenda pursued by Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
That agenda marked a central theme of Schwartz’s tense confirmation hearing in July before the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, where lawmakers on both sides of the aisle pressed her on how she would deal with any political interference from the Trump administration when it comes to vaccine policy.
Schwartz ultimately scored the backing of the panel’s chair, Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., who had appeared dissatisfied with her responses at her confirmation hearing.
Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., was the only Democrat who voted to confirm Schwartz’s bid.
Schwartz worked as an occupational medicine physician in the U.S. Navy. She transferred to the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, where she achieved the rank of rear admiral.
Schwartz also served as the chief medical officer of the U.S Coast Guard and later as deputy surgeon general of the United States.