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CDC · Executive Appointment · Public Health · Trump
President Donald Trump nominated Erica Schwartz, former deputy surgeon general, as the new director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, aiming to stabilize the agency after over a year of leadership turmoil and rapid turnover.
The Atlanta-based CDC has experienced significant instability since Trump's return to office, with Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. overseeing controversial attempts to rewrite childhood vaccine recommendations, some of which a federal judge has halted.
Previous nominees, including Dr. David Weldon and confirmed director Susan Monarez, failed to secure the role or were ousted quickly for not aligning with the administration's agenda, leading to resignations of key scientific leaders.
Schwartz, with medical and law degrees and a background as deputy surgeon general, joins a new team including Sean Slovenski as deputy director/COO and Dr. Jennifer Shuford as deputy director/CMO.
While Trump praised Schwartz as "incredibly talented" and Kennedy expressed optimism for restoring trust, Aaron Siri, a Kennedy ally, criticized Schwartz's past vaccine promotion, indicating continued internal division regarding the agency's direction.
