Dr. Erica Schwartz, President Donald Trump’s third nominee to lead the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in under two years, appeared poised for approval by the Senate health committee ahead of her confirmation hearing on Wednesday. A retired rear admiral and former deputy surgeon general during Trump’s first term, Dr. Schwartz has publicly endorsed childhood vaccinations and is regarded as a mainstream candidate with strong public health credentials.
Despite broad expectations of her confirmation, the hearing was marked by intense scrutiny over her willingness to challenge Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s controversial policies, including his efforts to rescind longstanding childhood vaccine recommendations. Senate Health Committee Chairman Bill Cassidy, a Republican physician from Louisiana, sharply criticized Kennedy’s stance on vaccines, emphasizing the need for the CDC director to oppose what he characterized as misinformation undermining public trust in immunization.
“We need a CDC director that will actually stand up to crazy, stupid things being said that undermine faith in immunization,” Cassidy said, adding that promoting misinformation about vaccines was “evil.” He pressed Dr. Schwartz directly on whether she would be that person.
Dr. Schwartz consistently affirmed her commitment to evidence-based science throughout her testimony, stating, “I will never betray the science.” She supported the safety and efficacy of vaccines, including mRNA technology used in COVID-19 vaccines, and endorsed standard newborn treatments like vitamin K injections. However, she declined to agree to the complete removal of language on the CDC’s website—which Kennedy introduced—suggesting the link between vaccines and autism remains unresolved. She noted the rising prevalence of autism and asserted the need for further research.
Her responses did not satisfy all committee members, including Democrats and Senator Cassidy. Senator Maggie Hassan of New Hampshire challenged her assertion that the president would never instruct anyone to break the law, citing previous instances that contradicted this claim.
Dr. Schwartz also denied knowledge of Kennedy’s reductions in funding for COVID-19 vaccine contracts, smoking cessation, and food safety programs during her previous service, leading some public health experts to question her depth of awareness regarding current CDC leadership dynamics. Dr. Jeanne Marrazzo, chief executive of the Infectious Diseases Society of America, expressed disappointment over the lack of unequivocal commitments to scientific integrity.
The agency has faced significant challenges in recent years, including staff losses, internal disruptions, and a shooting at its Atlanta headquarters. Dr. Schwartz would assume leadership following the January 2023 firing of Susan Monarez, the CDC’s prior permanent director, who was dismissed for resisting Kennedy’s vaccine policy directives. Dr. Schwartz herself stated she was unaware of Kennedy’s interference in vaccine decision-making but expressed alignment with certain elements of his agenda, such as promoting healthy diets, physical activity, and a renewed focus on infectious diseases.
She supported redefining the CDC’s mission to concentrate on infectious disease control rather than chronic illnesses, reflecting Kennedy’s vision to transfer chronic disease work to a proposed but uncertain new agency, the Administration for a Healthy America.
Meanwhile, the Senate health committee also questioned Sean Kaufmann, Trump’s nominee for assistant secretary for preparedness and response. Kaufmann appeared to distance himself from earlier statements opposing COVID-19 vaccine mandates and newborn hepatitis B vaccines despite previously voicing skepticism, drawing sharp rebuke from Sen. Cassidy.
Dr. Schwartz has committed to resigning from her corporate roles at UnitedHealth Group, Butterfly Network, and Aveanna Healthcare if confirmed. Financial disclosures reveal she earned nearly $850,000 in salary and bonuses from UnitedHealth, with additional vested stock awards valued at several million dollars, and a minimum net worth of approximately $4.6 million.
Her confirmation hearing underscores ongoing tensions between the CDC’s leadership and the Biden administration’s Health Secretary Kennedy, whose approach has challenged established public health policies at the agency during a period marked by both internal and external pressures.