President Trump Nominates Dr. Erica Schwartz as CDC Director
President Donald Trump has nominated Dr. Erica Schwartz, a former deputy surgeon general, to lead the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
President Donald Trump has nominated Dr. Erica Schwartz, a former deputy surgeon general, to lead the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Dr. Schwartz, a retired rear admiral in the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, previously served as the Coast Guard's Chief Medical Officer and as Deputy Surgeon General from 2019 to 2021. She holds a medical degree from Brown University and a law degree from the University of Maryland.
The CDC has experienced leadership instability, with multiple interim directors since August 2025. The agency has faced challenges, including internal resignations and controversies over vaccine policy changes initiated by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Dr. Schwartz's nomination is subject to Senate confirmation. If confirmed, she will be the fourth person to lead the CDC in just over a year, reflecting ongoing efforts to stabilize the agency's leadership.