Senate panel to hear CDC director nominee Erica Schwartz

Retired Rear Admiral Erica Schwartz, President Trump's nominee to lead the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, is scheduled to testify before the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee on Wednesday. The hearing will be Schwartz's first public appearance since her nomination in mid-April and will focus on her qualifications and vision for an agency that has lacked a permanent director for most of the second Trump administration.

Schwartz, a former chief medical officer of the U.S. Coast Guard and deputy surgeon general, holds degrees in medicine, law and public health. If confirmed, she would serve under Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has pursued changes to vaccine policy that have faced judicial setbacks.

Public-health officials expressed optimism about her candidacy. > "People are very optimistic about her candidacy and are supportive of her potentially being in the role," said Dr. Marcus Plescia, district health director for Fulton County, Georgia. > "What we really need right now is a CDC director who can step in and be a spokesperson on some of the emerging issues we're facing."

The nominee inherits an agency confronting significant challenges, including staff reductions, morale concerns and increased political review of policy decisions. Internal emails released by Senator Bernie Sanders revealed that the previous director, Susan Monarez, faced directives to elevate political oversight of major CDC policies.

During an internal CDC meeting, deputy director and chief operating officer Sean Slovenski acknowledged high stress levels among employees and pledged a careful reorganization. > "I'm not promising that everyone will be happy. What I'm promising is that everyone will be clear," he said.

The Wednesday session will also consider the confirmation of Sean Kaufman as Assistant Secretary for Strategic Preparedness and Response at HHS.