Trump Formally Nominates Former Deputy Surgeon General Erica Schwartz as CDC Director Amid Agency Turmoil
President Trump formally nominated former Deputy Surgeon General Dr. Erica Schwartz to be director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The announcement, made this week, puts Schwartz forward for a Senate-confirmed post amid agency leadership instability. Trump also named Sean Slovenski as CDC deputy director and chief operating officer, Dr. Jennifer Shuford as deputy director and chief medical officer, and Dr. Sara Brenner as senior counselor for public health. Jay Bhattacharya has been serving as acting CDC director while also overseeing NIH operations and is expected to continue during the confirmation process. Schwartz is a retired Coast Guard rear admiral who led the service's 41-clinic system and served as Coast Guard chief medical officer and as deputy surgeon general. Her academic credentials include an MD from Brown, a law degree from the University of Maryland, and a master of public health from the Uniformed Services University.
The CDC has endured more than a year of turmoil, with a succession of mostly temporary leaders and the recent ouster of a Senate-confirmed director after less than a month. Multiple senior CDC scientists resigned in protest, citing concerns about political meddling in agency science and policy. Public trust in the CDC fell to 47 percent in January 2026, down from about 63 percent earlier, a decline driven largely by Republican respondents. Schwartz has led nationwide COVID-19 vaccine deployment and has publicly praised vaccines as a cornerstone of prevention while also emphasizing healthy diet and exercise. The CDC's vaccination programs prevent large numbers of hospitalizations; for example, the rotavirus vaccine prevents an estimated 40,000 to 50,000 hospitalizations among U.S. infants and young children each year. Social posts included positive takes from @RutwikShahMD and @PeggyDodson, skepticism from @fenixfoundation, market tags by @byul_finance, and enthusiastic support from @MozartsTrump.
Early coverage, driven by outlets such as PBS and the Associated Press, emphasized agency turmoil, resignations and fears of political meddling in CDC science. Later reports and Trump statements, amplified by Fox News, framed Schwartz as the solution who will restore scientific integrity, touting endorsements from HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and allied officials. The shift highlights how coverage can move from problem-focused scrutiny to administration narratives promising reform, a change that matters for public perceptions of the CDC during the confirmation process.
📊 Relevant Data
Before the introduction of the rotavirus vaccine in the United States, rotavirus caused an estimated 55,000 to 70,000 hospitalizations annually among infants and young children.
Chapter 13: Rotavirus | Manual for the Surveillance of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases — Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
The rotavirus vaccine prevents an estimated 40,000 to 50,000 hospitalizations among U.S. infants and young children each year.
AAP: CDC plan to remove universal childhood vaccine recommendations a step backward — American Academy of Pediatrics
Trust in the CDC dropped to 47% in January 2026, down from 63% previously, with the decline largely driven by perceptions among Republicans.
Trust In CDC Has Now Fallen To 47%, KFF Poll Says. Here’s What That Means. — Forbes
Dr. Erica Schwartz has led nationwide COVID-19 vaccine deployment and praised vaccines as a cornerstone of prevention, while also emphasizing healthy diet and exercise.
Trump to Nominate Dr. Erica Schwartz, a Vaccine Deployment Leader, to Head C.D.C. — The New York Times
📌 Key Facts
- President Trump has formally nominated Dr. Erica Schwartz to be director of the CDC; the post requires Senate confirmation.
- Trump announced a leadership slate alongside Schwartz: Sean Slovenski as CDC deputy director and chief operating officer, Dr. Jennifer Shuford as deputy director and chief medical officer, and Dr. Sara Brenner as senior counselor for public health to the HHS secretary; Slovenski is a former Walmart executive.
- Dr. Erica Schwartz is a retired Coast Guard rear admiral and former Coast Guard chief medical officer who served as deputy surgeon general in Trump’s first term (and into the early Biden administration); her credentials include an MD (Brown), a JD (University of Maryland) and an MPH (Uniformed Services University).
- Jay Bhattacharya has been serving as acting CDC director while also directing NIH and is expected to continue overseeing CDC operations during Schwartz’s confirmation process.
- The nomination comes amid more than a year of turmoil at the CDC, including a succession of mostly temporary leaders, the confirmed-but-quickly-ousted Susan Monarez, and the resignation of multiple senior CDC scientists who raised concerns about political meddling.
- Trump used Truth Social to praise Schwartz as an “incredibly talented” “STAR,” saying the new team will “restore the GOLD STANDARD OF SCIENCE” at a CDC he criticized as a “disaster” under President Biden; HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. also publicly endorsed the slate and said he looks forward to restoring trust and scientific integrity.
- Schwartz has received on‑the‑record endorsements from figures including Brett Giroir, former Coast Guard commandant Paul Zukunft, and American Public Health Association head Dr. Georges Benjamin, who described her as highly qualified and science‑based; Sen. Tommy Tuberville publicly pledged to vote to confirm her.
- Public-facing details about Schwartz include her presentation as a preventive‑care physician on Instagram, with posts about loneliness, sleep, walking and age‑specific health priorities.
📰 Source Timeline (5)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
- Trump's Truth Social announcement language calling Schwartz an 'incredibly talented' 'STAR' and praising her military service and prior role as his deputy surgeon general.
- Confirmation that Schwartz served as deputy surgeon general during part of Trump's first term and into early in the Biden administration, as reflected in Butterfly Network board materials.
- On-the-record endorsement from HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on X saying he looks forward to working with Schwartz to 'restore trust, accountability, and scientific integrity at the CDC.'
- On-the-record backing from Sen. Tommy Tuberville, who publicly pledged to vote to confirm Schwartz and attacked CDC performance under Biden.
- Trump's simultaneous announcement of Sean Slovenski as CDC deputy director and chief operating officer, Dr. Jennifer Shuford as CDC deputy director and chief medical officer, and Dr. Sara Brenner as senior counselor for public health to the HHS secretary.
- Trump's framing that the new team will 'restore the GOLD STANDARD OF SCIENCE' at a CDC he calls a 'disaster' under President Biden and 'Sleepy Joe.'
- AP/PBS article emphasizes that the CDC has experienced more than a year of turmoil since Trump returned to office, with 'a succession of mostly temporary leaders.'
- Provides additional narrative detail that Susan Monarez was confirmed by the Senate but ousted in less than a month for not being 'aligned' with the administration, prompting multiple senior CDC scientists to resign in protest over political meddling concerns.
- Clarifies Schwartz’s career trajectory, including leading the Coast Guard’s system of 41 clinics and 150 sick bays and helping oversee uniformed health professionals posted at CDC and other agencies as deputy surgeon general.
- Adds on-the-record praise from HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. at a House Appropriations hearing, calling the new CDC team 'extraordinary' and saying it will 'revolutionize CDC and get it back on track.'
- Notes that Jay Bhattacharya, as NIH director, has been overseeing CDC operations in recent weeks pending a permanent director.
- Specifically identifies Sean Slovenski as a former Walmart executive and describes the roles of Dr. Jennifer Shuford and Dr. Sara Brenner in the new leadership slate.
- Confirms that President Trump has now officially nominated Dr. Erica Schwartz to be CDC director and that the position requires Senate confirmation.
- Names three additional appointments: Sean Slovenski as CDC deputy director and COO, Dr. Jennifer Shuford as deputy director and chief medical officer, and Dr. Sara Brenner as senior counselor for public health to the HHS secretary.
- States that Dr. Jay Bhattacharya has been serving as acting CDC director since February while simultaneously directing NIH and is expected to continue during the confirmation process.
- Details Schwartz’s credentials more fully: retired Coast Guard rear admiral, former Coast Guard chief medical officer, deputy surgeon general in Trump’s first term, and holder of an MD from Brown, a JD from the University of Maryland, and an MPH from USU.
- Includes on‑the‑record endorsements from Brett Giroir, former Coast Guard commandant Paul Zukunft, and American Public Health Association head Dr. Georges Benjamin, who describe Schwartz as highly qualified, science‑based, and willing to ‘talk truth to power.’
- Notes that Schwartz presents herself on Instagram as a preventive‑care physician, with posts on loneliness, sleep, walking, and age‑specific health priorities.
- Confirms via Axios that Trump has formally nominated former deputy surgeon general Erica Schwartz to lead the CDC, consistent with earlier multi‑source reporting.