Senate confirms Dr. Erica Schwartz as CDC director

scienceAug 5, 202618244

The U.S. Senate confirmed Dr. Erica Schwartz as director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in a 51-44 vote that largely split along party lines and included Virginia Democrat Tim Kaine as the sole Democrat to support her. Schwartz is President Trump’s third nominee for the role and served as deputy surgeon general during Trump’s first term after holding public health positions detailed to the Coast Guard, ultimately becoming that force’s chief medical officer. Senators pressed Schwartz at her confirmation hearing about vaccine policy and whether she would resist efforts to undermine scientific consensus; she said she “will never betray the science” while deflecting detailed answers about managing the agency’s relationship with Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Republican Senator and committee chair Bill Cassidy backed Schwartz, saying the agency needs a director who will confront statements that “undermine faith in immunization,” and pledged to work with her to regain public trust. Schwartz takes the job after nearly a year without a permanent CDC director, following the withdrawal of David Weldon in March 2025 and the firing last year of Susan Monarez after less than a month on the job. She steps into leadership amid ongoing public health concerns including a cyclosporiasis outbreak and high-profile vaccine hesitancy from public figures, positioning her to confront both operational and credibility challenges at the agency.

Patti Olivier EPSTEIN FILES NEVER FORGET

@patti3333.bsky.social

Senate confirms Dr.Erica Schwartz as CDC Director She is a Doctor, graduate of Brown Univ. She has JD from Univ of MD SHE IS A REPUBLICAN (ok I have to be hesitant) She was inTrump's 1st Admin. Chief Med. Officer Coast Guard She did help lead with COVID, established testing WE CAN ONLY HOPE

6710h ago

Mimimalwaysblue2

Trump will help her ruin her career.

I Am Antifa1

As Dad used to say, don't expect too much and you won't be disappointed.

Carol Stanton1

The director of the CDC doesn't matter to me in a Trump administration. If the Trump administration says it, it may be true but probably is not.

Millie, or Mills if we’re friends1

Let’s just hope they ran out of lunatics and she will lead properly. She has the right credentials 🙏🏻

Republicans Against Trumpism

@rpsagainsttrump.bsky.social

NEW: The U.S. Senate has confirmed Dr. Erica Schwartz as CDC director by a 51-44 vote

5810h ago

chrisnjfl.bsky.social14

When asked if she would implement unscientific policies if asked to do so by felon47 & despicablerfkjr, she said she believed they would not ask her to do that. If she believes that & can't say a definitive no to that question she is the wrong person for the job.

Dreggas13 is on YouTube12

on one hand...at least she is a Doctor. On the other hand...how bat shit crazy is she?

JasonTheTall6

This anti-vaxxer literally said she won’t betray science, backs Kennedy. Ffs 😡

Hellishchildren1

How long until Trump pays attention long enough to realize she is a Black woman?

Brian 🇺🇸 / Muzi 🇿🇦1

All she has to do is to block the noise and focus on public health. And by "noise" I mean RFK Jr and everyone who claims to be a scientist without the credentials or degree of any kind to back it up.

camofarc.bsky.social1

Dems Gallego not voting Klobuchar not voting - in MN for important governor debate KAINE YEA What????

Barbara Rodriguez

@bcrodriguez.bsky.social

Dr. Erica Schwartz, who was confirmed as CDC director today by the Senate, says she wants to bring “radical transparency and unwavering scientific integrity” to the job — she faces political headwinds and practical challenges as gets started. 19thnews.org/2026/08/eric...

1110h ago

Uché Blackstock, MD

@ucheblackstockmd.bsky.social

Dr. Erica Schwartz becoming the first Black woman to lead the CDC is historic, but representation & accountability must go together. Trust must be earned by defending science, protecting the CDC’s independence, and putting public health above political pressure. I’ll be watching. #DrUB

139h ago

Bruce Little

@brucedlittle.bsky.social

Schwartz, a former deputy surgeon general & retired US Coast Guard officer, was nominated in April and is the first Black woman to serve as director of the CDC. She’s a notable departure from prior contenders considered by the administration, who have toed the “Make America Healthy Again” line.

84h ago

WatchYourRepsTN&SC

@watchyourrepssc.bsky.social

The first Black woman to lead the CDC will face an uphill battle in restoring trust 19thnews.org/2026/08/eric... via @19thnews.org

84h ago

CIDRAP

@cidrap.bsky.social

Senate confirms Erica Schwartz as CDC director Schwartz will lead an agency that has been operating without a confirmed director for nearly a year. Read more: https://bit.ly/4w9sR76 📷: HHS/Wikimedia Commons

109h ago

Maggie's Farm1

I hope she's not a MAHA loon.

Quoting this

Elizabeth Grisham 💙🗳🗽2

It is very sad that someone in public health leadership—especially at the federal level—would not stand loud and proud on the side of vaccine access. Sigh. #VaccinesWork

@terry-157.bsky.social

apnews.com/article/eric... confirms Dr. Erica Schwartz as CDC director, bringing new leadership to troubled agency I am sure she is qualified but she has a boss who will make viable responses difficult. And his boss who is an antagonist. The next infectious disease, I fear the worst.

89h ago

Scientific American

@sciam.bsky.social

After nearly a year of interim directors, the nation's top public health body finally has a full-time leader www.scientificamerican.com/article/trum...

1010h ago