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New CDC director is confirmed, giving agency its first permanent leader in a year
Schwartz becomes the CDC’s 22nd leader as the agency faces 3,000-plus departures and questions over political influence, officials said.
- The Senate confirmed Dr. Erica Schwartz as director of the Atlanta-based CDC in a 51-44 vote on Wednesday, making her the agency's 22nd leader and first Senate-confirmed director in nearly a year.
- Turmoil has gripped the CDC since Republican President Donald Trump returned to office last year, with the agency losing more than 3,000 employees—over one-quarter of its workforce—amid layoffs and resignations.
- Schwartz is the third Trump nominee for CDC director in the past 18 months; earlier, the Senate canceled a hearing for David Weldon, and Susan Monarez was ousted less than a month after confirmation.
- Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., initially questioned whether Schwartz would resist pressure from health secretary Robert Kennedy, but gained confidence after further discussions, overcoming gridlock in the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee.
- With medical and law degrees plus Coast Guard leadership experience, Schwartz faces the challenge of stabilizing the agency amid depleted morale and ongoing political friction within federal health leadership.
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Total News Sources54
Leaning Left11Leaning Right2Center39Last UpdatedBias Distribution75% Center
Bias Distribution
- 75% of the sources are Center
75% Center
L 21%
C 75%
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