CDC nominee Erica Schwartz clears key Senate hurdle in 13-10 committee vote

Published Jul 30, 06:56 PM UTC

Dr. Erica Schwartz's nomination to lead the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advanced from the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee by a 13-10 vote, with all Republicans and one Democrat supporting her. The vote followed a tense confirmation hearing where lawmakers pressed Schwartz on how she would handle potential political interference from the Trump administration, particularly regarding vaccine policy. Committee Chair Sen. Bill Cassidy expressed initial dissatisfaction but later supported her after further discussions. If confirmed, Schwartz would lead the CDC under HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has pursued a vaccine-skeptical agenda. The previous CDC director, Susan Monarez, testified she was fired for resisting Kennedy's vaccine orders. Schwartz is a former rear admiral in the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps and served as deputy surgeon general.