The U.S. Senate confirmed Erica Schwartz as the next director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Wednesday. The vote was 51 to 44, with most senators voting along party lines. One Democrat, Senator Tim Kaine of Virginia, voted in favor of her confirmation.
Schwartz will take over from Jay Bhattacharya, who has been leading the agency since February while also serving as director of the National Institutes of Health. She is expected to oversee public health responses, including decisions on vaccines and disease outbreaks. The agency has been under pressure since August 2025 when Susan Monarez was fired by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Monarez had only been in the role for about a month before she was removed. She later said that Kennedy fired her because she refused to support views from an advisory panel he had appointed. Kennedy has been a long-time critic of vaccines and has made several changes to public health policy during his time at HHS.
He stopped recommending COVID-19 vaccines for healthy children and pregnant women. He also replaced members of the CDC’s vaccine advisory panel with individuals who are skeptical of vaccines. Kennedy has also reduced the number of shots recommended for children.
Schwartz’s confirmation came after a hearing in which she faced questions about her stance on these changes. She said vaccines are safe and effective, but she did not clearly support or oppose Kennedy’s recent actions. Senators questioned her about whether she would challenge Kennedy if he tried to interfere with science.
One senator noted that a CDC webpage had been changed to suggest a possible link between vaccines and autism, despite scientific evidence to the contrary. Schwartz said she would not betray scientific findings in her new role. She promised to provide clear and honest public health guidance based on evidence.
Some critics said they were not convinced she would be able to resist political pressure. The American Public Health Association said Schwartz has the background to lead the agency effectively. She holds a medical degree from Brown University and a law degree from the University of Maryland.
Before her confirmation, she served as deputy surgeon general during the first Trump administration. Schwartz also worked in public health roles with the U.S. Coast Guard and as a public health service officer. The Senate confirmed her after a year of uncertainty at the CDC.
The agency has faced criticism for its handling of public health issues and internal changes. She is now expected to lead the agency through a period of increased scrutiny and public concern. The CDC has also been dealing with high case numbers and outbreaks, including a recent one linked to contaminated lettuce.
Schwartz’s leadership will be tested as she navigates the challenges of restoring trust in public health institutions. Her confirmation comes at a time when many Americans are concerned about the influence of politics on health decisions. The Senate’s decision to confirm her reflects a balance between political pressures and public health needs.
Some senators expressed concern about the impact of Kennedy’s actions on the agency. Still, they acknowledged her experience and said they would work with her to support the CDC’s mission. Schwartz has a long history in public health and is seen as someone who can help rebuild confidence in the agency.
Her appointment marks a shift from recent controversial changes at the CDC under Kennedy’s leadership. The nation will be watching closely to see how she handles these challenges in her new role.
IMAGE: Coast Guard Cmdr. (Dr.) Erica Schwartz was one of six winners in the “Building Stronger Female Physican Leaders in the MHS” awards program at the 2011 MHS Conference, National Harbor, Md. The program seeks to recognize outstanding women who are military medical doctors for their work with the military and civilian communities and as role models to other women. Schwartz was recognized for her work serving as the Coast Guard’s subject matter expert on pandemic influenza. She authored the Coast Guard pandemic influenza policy and created the Coast Guard pandemic influenza training course. (MHS photo by Mike Olliver). Photo: Military Health (Mike Olliver) / Wikimedia, taken 2011-01-27, CC BY 2.0