Former deputy surgeon general is recommended for CDC director, sources say

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Dr. Erica Schwartz emerges as White House's top pick for CDC leader

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Trump Administration Eyes Erica Schwartz To Lead Cdc 2556Ce28

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"This decision protects children, respects families, and rebuilds trust in public health."

"This [2026] decision recommits HHS to all three [transparency, rigorous science, and respect for families]."

"This decision commits NIH, CDC, and FDA to gold standard science, greater transparency, and ongoing reassessment as new data emerge."

"No family will lose access.This [2026] framework empowers parents and physicians to make individualized decisions based on risk, while maintaining strong protection against serious disease."

"The data support a more focused schedule that protects children from the most serious infectious diseases while improving clarity, adherence, and public confidence."

“I think that a reduced schedule is going to endanger children and lay the groundwork for a resurgence in preventable disease.”

"This wildly irresponsible decision will put lives at risk."

“Changing the pediatric vaccine schedule based on no scientific input on safety risks and little transparency will cause unnecessary fear for patients and doctors, and will make America sicker.”

“There will be more diseases, more infection, more hospitalizations.”

Will Secretary Kennedy's U.S. Childhood Vaccine Schedule Overhaul Risk Public Health?

<h2>Editor's Note</h2>

According to several media outlets, Dr. Erica Schwartz, a former deputy U.S. surgeon general and retired rear admiral, has emerged as the White House's leading contender to head the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), pending approval from President Donald Trump.

According to several media outlets, Dr. Erica Schwartz, a former deputy U.S. surgeon general and retired rear admiral, has emerged as the White House's leading contender to head the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), pending approval from President Donald Trump.

Schwartz would be Trump's third nominee to permanently lead the CDC. The post has been without a confirmed director since August, following the dismissal of Susan Monarez after clashes with Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. over vaccine policy.

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Schwartz would be Trump's third nominee to permanently lead the CDC. The post has been without a confirmed director since August, following the dismissal of Susan Monarez after clashes with Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. over vaccine policy.

Schwartz spent more than two decades in uniform across the U.S. Navy, the Public Health Service Commissioned Corps and the U.S. Coast Guard. She holds a medical degree from Brown University and a law degree from the University of Maryland.

Schwartz spent more than two decades in uniform across the U.S. Navy, the Public Health Service Commissioned Corps and the U.S. Coast Guard. She holds a medical degree from Brown University and a law degree from the University of Maryland.

The Trump administration is also reportedly vetting Sean Slovenski, a former Walmart executive, for a chief operating officer role at the CDC, along with infectious-disease physician Jennifer Shuford and FDA official Sara Brenner for senior positions.

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The Trump administration is also reportedly vetting Sean Slovenski, a former Walmart executive, for a chief operating officer role at the CDC, along with infectious-disease physician Jennifer Shuford and FDA official Sara Brenner for senior positions.

National Institute of Health (NIH) Director Jay Bhattacharya has been overseeing the CDC in an acting capacity since February, managing two of the federal government's largest public health agencies simultaneously while the search for a permanent CDC director continued.

National Institute of Health (NIH) Director Jay Bhattacharya has been overseeing the CDC in an acting capacity since February, managing two of the federal government's largest public health agencies simultaneously while the search for a permanent CDC director continued.

This comes after a federal judge last month blocked many vaccine policy changes made under Kennedy's handpicked CDC advisory panel, known as ACIP. Kennedy subsequently signed a new charter for the panel, a move health policy experts viewed as an attempt to sidestep the ruling.

This comes after a federal judge last month blocked many vaccine policy changes made under Kennedy's handpicked CDC advisory panel, known as ACIP. Kennedy subsequently signed a new charter for the panel, a move health policy experts viewed as an attempt to sidestep the ruling.

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Dr. Erica Schwartz, a former deputy U.S. surgeon general and retired rear admiral, has emerged as the White House's leading contender to head the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, pending approval from President Donald Trump.

Dr. Erica Schwartz, a former deputy U.S. surgeon general and retired rear admiral, has emerged as the White House's leading contender to head the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, pending approval from President Donald Trump.

The Trump administration is also vetting Sean Slovenski, a former Walmart executive, for a chief operating officer role at the CDC, along with infectious-disease physician Jennifer Shuford and FDA official Sara Brenner for senior positions.

The Trump administration is also vetting Sean Slovenski, a former Walmart executive, for a chief operating officer role at the CDC, along with infectious-disease physician Jennifer Shuford and FDA official Sara Brenner for senior positions.

NIH Director Jay Bhattacharya has been overseeing the CDC in an acting capacity since February, managing two of the federal government's largest public health agencies simultaneously while the search for a permanent CDC director continued.

NIH Director Jay Bhattacharya has been overseeing the CDC in an acting capacity since February, managing two of the federal government's largest public health agencies simultaneously while the search for a permanent CDC director continued.

A federal judge last month blocked many vaccine policy changes made under Kennedy's handpicked CDC advisory panel, known as ACIP. Kennedy subsequently signed a new charter for the panel, a move health policy experts viewed as an attempt to sidestep the ruling.

A federal judge last month blocked many vaccine policy changes made under Kennedy's handpicked CDC advisory panel, known as ACIP. Kennedy subsequently signed a new charter for the panel, a move health policy experts viewed as an attempt to sidestep the ruling.

The CDC has been leaderless for almost all of Trump's second term, and that's a serious problem for public health. Finding someone who satisfies RFK Jr.'s MAHA movement AND can get Senate-confirmed is a near-impossible balancing act. The administration keeps punting on this pick, leaving a critical agency adrift during a time when strong, permanent leadership matters most.

The CDC has been leaderless for almost all of Trump's second term, and that's a serious problem for public health. Finding someone who satisfies RFK Jr.'s MAHA movement AND can get Senate-confirmed is a near-impossible balancing act. The administration keeps punting on this pick, leaving a critical agency adrift during a time when strong, permanent leadership matters most.

Linda Hill

Erica Schwartz is a genuinely strong pick for CDC director — a retired rear admiral with real public health credentials, not a political hack. The leadership team being assembled around her, including a former Walmart health executive, Texas's health commissioner and a senior FDA official, signals serious, credible governance. This looks like much-needed guardrails finally being put in place.

Erica Schwartz is a genuinely strong pick for CDC director — a retired rear admiral with real public health credentials, not a political hack. The leadership team being assembled around her, including a former Walmart health executive, Texas's health commissioner and a senior FDA official, signals serious, credible governance. This looks like much-needed guardrails finally being put in place.

Michael Olesen

Dan Diamond

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@ddiamond.bsky.social on Bluesky

Gain-of-Function Research and the COVID Origins Debate

Reports: Schwartz Leading Candidate for Top CDC Director Pick

Reports: Schwartz Leading Candidate for Top CDC Director Pick

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The CDC has been leaderless for almost all of Trump's second term — a serious problem for public health. Finding someone who satisfies RFK Jr.'s MAHA movement and can get Senate-confirmed has been a near-impossible balancing act. The administration keeps punting on this pick, leaving a critical agency adrift during a time when strong, permanent leadership matters most.

The CDC has been leaderless for almost all of Trump's second term — a serious problem for public health. Finding someone who satisfies RFK Jr.'s MAHA movement and can get Senate-confirmed has been a near-impossible balancing act. The administration keeps punting on this pick, leaving a critical agency adrift during a time when strong, permanent leadership matters most.

If the Trump administration finally makes this pick official, Schwartz seems to be a genuinely strong pick with real public health credentials for CDC director, not a political hack. The leadership team that might be assembled around her also signals serious, credible governance. This looks like much-needed guardrails finally being put in place in the fact of some unpopular policy making.

If the Trump administration finally makes this pick official, Schwartz seems to be a genuinely strong pick with real public health credentials for CDC director, not a political hack. The leadership team that might be assembled around her also signals serious, credible governance. This looks like much-needed guardrails finally being put in place in the fact of some unpopular policy making.

There's a 20% chance that the CDC will report at least 2,500 confirmed measles cases in the United States for 2026 before May 1, 2026?

There's a 20% chance that the CDC will report at least 2,500 confirmed measles cases in the United States for 2026 before May 1, 2026?

Reports: Schwartz Leading Candidate for Top CDC Director Pick

Reports: Schwartz Leading Candidate for Top CDC Director Pick

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Reports: Schwartz Leading Candidate for Top CDC Director Pick

Reports: Schwartz Leading Candidate for Top CDC Director Pick

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