“A battle-tested leader with decades of distinguished public service—including as a Rear Admiral in the U.S. Public Health Service and Coast Guard—she has the expertise, credibility, and integrity to lead the CDC effectively,” wrote Adams, who has been critical of public-health leadership during Trump’s second term, in a LinkedIn post following Trump’s announcement. “If allowed to follow the science without political interference, she’ll excel.”
Schwartz now faces Senate confirmation.
Leadership at CDC has been temporary and tumultuous during Trump’s second term. The White House withdrew Trump’s first pick to head the CDC, Florida congressman Dr. David Weldon, shortly before his confirmation hearing over concerns that he likely would not have received the required votes to be confirmed. The Administration’s next choice, Susan Monarez, served as CDC director for about four weeks until she was ousted after disagreeing with Administration officials about public-health policies, including vaccines. At a Sept. 2025 hearing before the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, she testified that Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. pressured her to dismiss vaccine officials at the agency without cause and approve changes related to immunizations without scientific evidence.
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