Reports: Schwartz Leading Candidate for Top CDC Director Pick

Published APR 15

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Above: CDC headquarters in Atlanta on Dec. 5, 2025. Image credit: Megan Varner/Bloomberg/Getty Images

The Spin

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.

Axios

Linda Hill on X

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 factface of some unpopular policy making.

Michael Olesen on X

Dan Diamond on Bluesky Social

Metaculus Prediction

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, according to the Metaculus prediction community.

Editor's Note

This story currently has limited coverage. We will continue to monitor all major outlets and update our reporting as additional information becomes available.