Erica Schwartz, Trump's pick to run the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, promised senators Wednesday that she will never compromise on science, but she dodged repeated questions about whether she can resist pressure from her boss, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a prominent vaccine skeptic.
During her confirmation hearing before the Senate health committee, Schwartz, a rear admiral who served as deputy surgeon general in Trump's first term, said she would use "radical transparency" to restore public confidence in the agency. When pressed directly by Senator Bill Cassidy, a Louisiana Republican and physician, about standing firm against "crazy, stupid things" that damage trust in vaccines, Schwartz said Kennedy "will absolutely allow me to be CDC director."
The nominee's reluctance to address hypothetical conflicts with Kennedy frustrated Democrats. Senator Maggie Hassan asked whether Schwartz would comply if Kennedy ordered her to halt promotion of flu vaccinations during a deadly flu season. Schwartz declined to engage with the scenario, saying she doesn't "speak in hypotheticals."
Hassan's follow-up was pointed: "It isn't hypothetical. It happened." She referenced internal CDC emails released by Senator Bernie Sanders showing Kennedy had directed staff to suspend such a campaign last year.
Schwartz acknowledged the CDC should prioritize infectious disease response but said the agency has taken on too many roles over time. She also sidestepped questions about a CDC webpage linking childhood vaccines to autism, which was modified last year without the standard scientific review process. Though she agreed medical evidence does not support such a link, she would not commit to removing the page.
When asked about recent cuts to CDC programs focused on smoking prevention and vaccination promotion, Schwartz said she was unaware of them. She did agree to investigate health impacts from AI data centers and explore opening a World Trade Center Health Program clinic in Florida if confirmed.
Schwartz brings deep public health credentials to the role. She holds a medical degree from Brown University, a master's degree in public health from the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, and a law degree from the University of Maryland. During her military career spanning more than two decades, she oversaw a network of 41 clinics and 150 sick bays across the Coast Guard and Navy, while implementing vaccination policies for service members.
The Senate committee appeared poised to approve her nomination. Trump selected her in April, describing her as "incredibly talented" on Truth Social. Kennedy later endorsed her, though he stopped short of pledging support for whatever vaccine guidance she might issue as director.
Schwartz would inherit an agency in turmoil. Trump has now made three separate picks for the CDC director position. His first nominee, former Florida congressman David Weldon, withdrew in March before his hearing. The administration then confirmed acting director Susan Monarez, only to fire her less than a month later for failing to align with the administration's agenda. Her dismissal triggered resignations among senior CDC officials who protested Kennedy's vaccine stance and management approach.
Author James Rodriguez: "Schwartz's studied avoidance of specifics on Kennedy's vaccine moves suggests she'll have a hard time maintaining scientific credibility if confirmed, no matter what she said under oath."
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