The Senate confirmed Dr. Erica Schwartz as the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Wednesday with a vote of 51-43. Schwartz, nominated by President Donald Trump, faced a challenging confirmation hearing last month before the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. She will take office after the agency has been without a permanent leader for nearly a year.
Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA) was the only Democrat to support Schwartz’s nomination, while Senators Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Maize Hirono (D-HI), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Ron Johnson (R-WI), Thom Tillis (R-NC), and Mitch McConnell (R-KY) did not participate in the vote.
Schwartz previously served as deputy surgeon general during the first Trump administration, where she oversaw the COVID-19 testing program. During her confirmation hearing, she faced questions from Democrats about her willingness to oppose Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on vaccine policy. Kennedy had previously dismissed her predecessor, Susan Monarez, after she resisted his directives regarding the childhood vaccine schedule.
Schwartz stated during her hearing that she did not anticipate Kennedy would ask her to make similar compromises. She is the second CDC director to undergo the Senate confirmation process, a requirement that was established during the COVID-19 pandemic.