In a significant move, former President Donald Trump announced on Thursday his nomination of Erica Schwartz, a former deputy surgeon general, to serve as the next director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Trump praised Schwartz in a social media post, calling her "incredibly talented" and declaring, "She is a STAR!" This nomination comes at a critical time for the Atlanta-based CDC, which has been embroiled in turmoil since Trump returned to office over a year ago, with a series of mostly temporary leaders failing to stabilize the agency.
Leadership Instability at the CDC
The CDC, tasked with safeguarding Americans from preventable health threats, has faced ongoing challenges under the oversight of Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Kennedy initially pledged not to alter the nation's vaccination schedule but later launched an investigation into the childhood vaccine schedule and attempted a major rewrite of vaccine recommendations for children. Recently, a federal judge halted some of these efforts, adding to the agency's difficulties.
Previous Nomination Attempts
Before Schwartz, the administration's first choice to lead the CDC was former Florida congressman Dr. David Weldon. However, his Senate confirmation hearing in March 2025 was canceled just an hour before it was scheduled to begin, with Weldon citing insufficient senatorial support. The White House then turned to Susan Monarez, who had been serving as the CDC's acting director. Monarez was confirmed by the Senate but was ousted in less than a month, as Trump administration officials claimed she was not aligned with their agenda.
This dismissal prompted several key CDC scientific leaders to resign in protest, expressing that their hopes for a director who could protect the agency from political interference in scientific research and health recommendations had been dashed. Since then, leadership has been a revolving door, with the acting director role passed among Washington-based HHS officials. Recently, National Institutes of Health Director Jay Bhattacharya has been overseeing the CDC.
Kennedy's Optimism and Ongoing Challenges
During a House Appropriations Committee hearing on Thursday, Health Secretary Kennedy expressed confidence in the new team being assembled at the CDC, describing it as "extraordinary." He stated, "I think this new team is really going to be able to revolutionize CDC and get it back on track." However, the nomination of Schwartz coincides with difficulties for another Trump health nominee, Dr. Casey Means, who is struggling to secure confirmation as U.S. surgeon general.
Means' nomination has languished since a confirmation hearing in February, reflecting bipartisan skepticism among lawmakers regarding the direction Kennedy has taken the health department. This political friction underscores the broader challenges facing the CDC as it seeks to restore stability and public trust.
The Associated Press contributed to this report, with support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute's Department of Science Education and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, though the AP retains sole responsibility for all content.
