New CDC director is confirmed, with Senate backing Dr. Erica Shwartz

August 6, 2026 - 00:09

The Senate voted Thursday to confirm Dr. Erica Schwartz as the new director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, placing a familiar face from the first Trump administration at the helm of the nation's top public health agency. Schwartz, who previously served as deputy surgeon general under President Donald Trump, won bipartisan support in a 62-38 vote, with several Democrats crossing the aisle to back her nomination.

During her confirmation hearing last month, Schwartz emphasized a return to "core public health fundamentals," including infectious disease tracking, lab safety, and chronic disease prevention. She also pledged to rebuild trust with state and local health departments, which she said had been strained during the COVID-19 pandemic. "We need to be honest about what worked and what did not," she told senators. "My focus will be on data-driven decisions, not political messaging."

Schwartz takes over at a time when the CDC faces ongoing budget pressures and a wave of retirements among senior scientists. She inherits a portfolio that includes responding to a rising number of avian flu cases in livestock, a stubborn overdose crisis, and growing concerns about vaccine hesitancy. In her first public statement after the vote, Schwartz said she would prioritize hiring and retaining lab researchers, modernizing disease surveillance systems, and publishing weekly updates on emerging threats.

The confirmation drew praise from public health groups, though some critics noted her limited experience managing a large federal agency. Schwartz spent most of her career as a Navy physician and later held policy roles at the Department of Health and Human Services. She replaces the outgoing director, who stepped down last fall after a contentious tenure. Schwartz is expected to be sworn in early next week and will begin her term by meeting with CDC regional offices.