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U.S. Senate confirms Dr. Erica Schwartz as CDC director by 51-44 vote
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The U.S. Senate narrowly confirmed Dr. Erica Schwartz as the new director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) by a vote of 51-44 on August 5, 2026. The confirmation fight centered on vaccine skepticism and the future of federal public health policy, particularly under Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has pursued a vaccine-skeptical agenda. During her tense confirmation hearing before the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, lawmakers from both parties pressed Schwartz on how she would handle potential political interference from the Trump administration regarding vaccine policy. Despite initial dissatisfaction with her responses, committee chair Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) ultimately backed her. Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) was the only Democrat to vote for confirmation. Schwartz is a former U.S. Navy occupational medicine physician who served in the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, achieving the rank of rear admiral, and previously served as chief medical officer of the U.S. Coast Guard and deputy surgeon general.
Source report
Dr. Erica Schwartz has been confirmed as the next director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), following a Senate vote on Wednesday.
The Senate confirmed Schwartz’s nomination 51-44. President Donald Trump’s pick will lead the national public health agency within the Department of Health and Human Services, which has faced criticism over the vaccine-skeptical agenda pursued by Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Confirmation Hearing Highlights
That agenda was a central theme of Schwartz’s tense confirmation hearing in July before the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee. Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle pressed her on how she would handle potential political interference from the Trump administration regarding vaccine policy.
Schwartz ultimately secured the backing of the panel’s chair, Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., who had appeared dissatisfied with her responses during the hearing.
Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., was the only Democrat to vote in favor of Schwartz’s confirmation.
Professional Background
Schwartz worked as an occupational medicine physician in the U.S. Navy before transferring to the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, where she achieved the rank of rear admiral.
She also served as the chief medical officer of the U.S. Coast Guard and later as deputy surgeon general of the United States.
Source
Government Executive - All ContentWestern
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