The US Senate confirmed Dr. Erica Schwartz as the new director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The US Senate voted 51-44 to confirm Dr. Erica Schwartz as the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Dr. Erica Schwartz, a former deputy surgeon general and retired US Coast Guard officer, is the first Black woman to serve as the agency's head. The administration announced her confirmation following a period of leadership turnover. She replaces Dr. Susan Monarez, who was removed by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. after a clash over vaccine policies. The administration sought to find a leader who could balance scientific consensus with the political leadership of the department. During the confirmation process, Sen. Bill Cassidy expressed support for the research-backed approach of Dr. Erica Schwartz. He noted that the administration is committed to removing vaccine misinformation from the CDC website, specifically regarding the link between vaccine-related autism. Dr. Erica Schwartz stated she will stand firm on the science while working with the health secretary.