Nationwide — Dr. Erica Schwartz has been confirmed as the new director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, becoming the first Black woman to lead the agency. The Senate approved her nomination on Wednesday in a 51-44 vote.
At 54, Schwartz becomes the 22nd leader of the CDC and its first permanent director in nearly a year. She will take charge of the agency as it responds to several major public health issues, including a large foodborne illness outbreak, a growing measles resurgence, and Ebola cases overseas.
According to the New York Post, Schwartz is the first full-time CDC director since Susan Monarez was removed from the position last year after disagreements over vaccine policies with Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. President Donald Trump later nominated two other candidates, but both nominations were withdrawn before Senate hearings.
Before her confirmation, Schwartz faced questions from lawmakers about whether she could make independent decisions while working under Kennedy. During her Senate hearing in July, some senators questioned if she would challenge policies they believed were not supported by science.
Sen. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana initially raised concerns about Schwartz’s ability to push back against Kennedy. After a private meeting with her, Cassidy said he believed Schwartz understood her responsibilities and would stand against decisions that go against public health practices.
Schwartz previously served as Chief Medical Officer for the U.S. Coast Guard and worked as a deputy surgeon general. She also holds both medical and law degrees, giving her experience in healthcare and policy.
During her confirmation hearing, Schwartz promised that she would “never betray science” but did not directly criticize some of Kennedy’s past actions involving vaccines and health policies. Her nomination also faced opposition from Sen. Bernie Sanders, who questioned whether she would challenge anti-science views within the administration.
Schwartz will now lead the CDC during a period of major changes at the agency. The CDC has lost more than 3,000 employees through layoffs and resignations since Trump began his second administration, reducing its workforce by more than a quarter.