Trump nominates Erica Schwartz, ex-deputy surgeon general, as CDC director
TL;DR
Donald Trump has nominated Erica Schwartz as the new director of the CDC, ending a lengthy search for leadership at the agency. Schwartz, a former deputy surgeon general, needs Senate confirmation to assume the role.
Key points
- Trump announced Erica Schwartz as CDC director nominee
- Schwartz previously served as deputy surgeon general
- She has extensive experience in public health and military service
- Senate confirmation is required for her appointment
Mentioned in this story
Donald Trump announced Thursday that he has selected Erica Schwartz to lead the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), bringing to an end a months-long search for a permanent head of the troubled public health agency.
Trump revealed his choice on Truth Social, saying: “I am pleased to announce the new leadership of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). It is my Honor to nominate the incredibly talented Dr Erica Schwartz, MD, JD, MPH, as my Director of the CDC,” he wrote. “She is a STAR!”
Schwartz must still receive confirmation from the Senate before taking the role.
A rear admiral in the US Coast Guard, Schwartz previously served as deputy surgeon general during Trump’s first administration. Over more than two decades, she has held positions in the US navy, the Public Health Service Commissioned Corps and the US Coast Guard. Her tenure as deputy surgeon general lasted from 2019 to 2021.
Schwartz is a physician with a background that includes a bachelor’s degree in biomedical engineering and a medical degree from Brown University. She also has a master’s in public health from the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, as well as a law degree from the University of Maryland.
Jay Bhattacharya had been serving as acting CDC director, but that designation expired last month under federal law. The statute, known as the Vacancies Act, restricts acting officials from serving longer than 210 days in roles that require Senate confirmation.
Since Trump returned to office in January, Robert F Kennedy Jr, the US health secretary, and his team have taken both public and private steps aimed at slowing vaccine research and guidance.
During a staff meeting in March, Bhattacharya pointed to several difficulties the agency has encountered over the past year, including repeated layoffs, declining staff morale and an incident in which a gunman fired outside the CDC’s Atlanta campus, resulting in the death of a police officer.
Q&A
Who is Erica Schwartz and what is her background?
Erica Schwartz is a physician and former deputy surgeon general with over two decades of service in the US Navy, Public Health Service, and Coast Guard.
What position has Trump nominated Erica Schwartz for?
Trump has nominated Erica Schwartz to be the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
What steps must Erica Schwartz take before becoming CDC director?
Erica Schwartz must receive confirmation from the Senate before she can officially take on the role of CDC director.
