Donald Trump on Thursday nominated Dr. Erica Schwartz as CDC director for 2026, selecting a former Navy rear admiral and deputy surgeon general from his first term to lead an agency that has seen four leadership changes in the past year and has lacked a Senate-confirmed chief since Susan Monarez was dismissed last August.
Summary
Schwartz, 57, holds a medical degree from Brown University, along with a law degree and a master’s in public health from Uniformed Services University. She spent 24 years in uniformed service, including roles as the U.S. Coast Guard’s chief medical officer and deputy surgeon general between 2019 and early 2021.
If confirmed, she would become the second permanent CDC director during Trump’s second term. Meanwhile, acting director Jay Bhattacharya is expected to remain in place during the confirmation process, which could take several months.
Trump also announced four additional leadership appointments across the CDC and HHS, including Sean Slovenski, former president of Walmart Health, as CDC deputy director and chief operating officer.
Context: A turbulent period for the CDC
The nomination comes during one of the most unstable periods in the CDC’s history. The agency has had a Senate-confirmed director for only a brief stretch of Trump’s second term. Monarez, confirmed in July 2025, was removed within weeks over reported disagreements with Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on vaccine policy and staffing. Three acting leaders followed, and the 210-day Vacancies Act limit on Bhattacharya’s interim role expired last month.
Trump praised Schwartz as “a STAR!” in a social media post, saying she has the credentials and experience to restore the CDC’s “gold standard of science.” The announcement coincided with Kennedy’s testimony before the House Ways and Means Committee, where he stated that the measles vaccine is safe and effective for most people.
Background and credentials
Schwartz played a key role during the early COVID-19 response as deputy surgeon general, coordinating testing, surveillance, and communication with state health authorities. Former Surgeon General Jerome Adams has praised her leadership, citing her expertise and credibility.
Unlike some previous nominees, Schwartz does not have a record of opposing approved vaccines, which may improve her chances in the Senate. The confirmation process will involve the Senate Health Committee, led by Bill Cassidy, who has previously raised concerns about vaccine policy changes.
What comes next
Schwartz’s nomination appears aimed at stabilizing leadership at the CDC ahead of key challenges, including the upcoming hurricane season and a busy political calendar leading into the midterms. Her confirmation will depend on navigating a crowded Senate agenda, where multiple nominations and legislative priorities are competing for time.
