Senate Committee Advances Erica Schwartz Nomination To Lead CDC After Initial Skepticism
The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee advanced Dr. Erica Schwartz's nomination to be director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Thursday, July 30, 2026, in a near party-line vote.[1]
Committee Chair Bill Cassidy said he shifted from skepticism to support after follow-up conversations with Schwartz and people who worked with her, and he said he is now confident she will stand up to those who do not follow science.[1] Senator Bernie Sanders formally opposed the nomination, framing the choice as whether Trump administration officials will stand up to "anti-science" views and "conspiracy theories." CBS News
President Trump selected Schwartz rather than HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a choice that left some public health experts initially cautiously optimistic.[1] Some of Kennedy's attempted changes to childhood vaccine recommendations were halted by a federal judge, a backdrop that sharpened scrutiny of Schwartz's answers about scientific independence.[1] The CDC has lost more than 3,000 employees — over one-quarter of its workforce — since President Trump returned to office, and morale has plummeted amid rapid leadership turnover and politically oriented appointees.[1]
At her hearing, Schwartz said she would "never betray the science," but she declined to directly criticize some actions taken by Kennedy and acknowledged she was unaware that certain smoking-prevention and vaccination-promotion programs had been curtailed.[1] The National Public Health Coalition said Schwartz's answers on scientific independence and vaccine policy were too vague and urged senators to seek written commitments protecting CDC guidance from political pressure.[1]
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📌 Key Facts
- The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee advanced Dr. Erica Schwartz's nomination to be CDC director in a near party-line vote on Thursday, July 30, 2026; Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee.
- Committee Chair Sen. Bill Cassidy said he changed from skepticism to support after follow-up conversations with Schwartz and people who worked with her and is now confident she will stand up to those who do not follow science.
- Sen. Bernie Sanders formally opposed the nomination, framing the choice as whether Trump administration officials will stand up to “anti-science” views and “conspiracy theories.”
- At her hearing, Dr. Erica Schwartz said she would “never betray the science,” but declined to directly criticize some actions taken by HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and acknowledged she was unaware that some CDC smoking‑prevention and vaccination‑promotion programs had been curtailed.
- The National Public Health Coalition said Schwartz's answers on scientific independence and vaccine policy were too vague and urged senators to seek written commitments to protect CDC guidance from political pressure.
- The CDC has lost more than 3,000 employees — over one-quarter of the agency's workforce — since President Trump returned to office, and morale has plummeted amid rapid leadership turnover and politically oriented appointees.
- Public health experts were initially cautiously optimistic because President Trump, rather than Robert F. Kennedy Jr., selected Schwartz; the article notes some of Kennedy's attempted changes to childhood vaccine recommendations were halted by a federal judge.
📰 Source Timeline (2)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
- On Thursday, July 30, 2026, the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee advanced Dr. Erica Schwartz's nomination to be CDC director, in a near party-line vote.
- Committee Chair Sen. Bill Cassidy said he changed from skepticism to support after follow-up conversations with Schwartz and people who had worked with her, saying he is now confident she will stand up to those who do not follow science.
- Sen. Bernie Sanders formally opposed the nomination, framing the issue as whether Trump administration officials will stand up to "anti-science" and "conspiracy theories."
- The article reports that the CDC has lost more than 3,000 employees since President Trump returned to office, more than one-quarter of the agency's workforce, and that morale has plummeted amid rapid leadership turnover and politically oriented appointees.
- The piece notes that public health experts were initially cautiously optimistic about Schwartz because she was selected by President Trump rather than HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and recounts that some of Kennedy's attempted changes to childhood vaccine recommendations were halted by a federal judge.
- The National Public Health Coalition said Schwartz's hearing answers on scientific independence and vaccine policy were too vague and urged senators to seek written commitments on protecting CDC guidance from political pressure.
- At her hearing, Schwartz said she would "never betray the science" but declined to directly criticize some actions taken by Kennedy, and acknowledged she was unaware that some CDC smoking-prevention and vaccination-promotion programs had been curtailed.