Who Is Dr. Erica Schwartz, Trump’s Pick For CDC Director?

Dr. Erica Schwartz, President Donald Trump’s nominee to lead the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), advanced through a key Senate committee vote on Thursday. 

The Washington Post reports that the Senate health committee voted 13-10 to advance Schwartz’s nomination to the Senate floor. Schwartz is the Trump administration’s third nominee to lead the CDC. Former congressman Dave Weldon (R-Fla.) was the first nominee before the administration retracted the nomination. Susan Monarez was the second nominee and was actually confirmed. She didn’t last long in the role, though, as she was fired after clashing with Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. over his obsession with vaccines. 

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According to AP, Schwartz’s nomination seemed to be on shaky ground after some intense questioning by Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.). Cassidy was one of Kennedy’s staunchest Republican critics during his confirmation hearing, given Kennedy’s general aversion to scientific fact in favor of whatever he sees on Facebook.

Cassidy asked Schwartz if she would stand up to Kennedy if he asked her to do something that goes against proven medical science. Schwartz said she would “never betray the science” but declined to criticize RFK Jr.’s regular betrayal of the science. 

Schwartz, a Black woman, is probably the least insane Trump appointee, but that honestly isn’t a high bar to clear. Schwartz served as deputy surgeon general during Trump’s first term from 2019 to 2021. Before that, she spent most of her career in the armed forces, working her way up the ranks of the U.S. Coast Guard. She eventually was promoted to rear admiral in the U.S….