Trump’s CDC nominee faces Senate hearing

Erica Schwartz, President Donald Trump’s nominee to lead the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, appeared before the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee on Wednesday. The confirmation hearing assessed her ability to guide the agency as public trust continues to decline.

Schwartz, a former deputy surgeon general and rear admiral in the U.S. Coast Guard, told lawmakers her primary focus would be rebuilding confidence in the CDC. “Public health is in my DNA,” she said. “I will never betray the science.”

Public confidence in the CDC has dropped

A June survey revealed only half of Americans now trust the agency’s health recommendations, compared with 77% in spring 2025. The decline followed the Trump administration’s efforts to overhaul federal health and science agencies, which disrupted the CDC’s stability.

The agency’s first director under Trump’s second term, Susan Monarez, was dismissed in August 2025 after disagreements with Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. over vaccine policies. Jim O’Neill, an investor, served as interim director until February 2026, when Jay Bhattacharya of the National Institutes of Health stepped in as acting CDC director.

If confirmed, Schwartz would report directly to Kennedy. Committee Chair Senator Bill Cassidy questioned her about resisting political interference, citing Monarez’s removal. “If I’m confirmed as CDC director, the nation’s health and well-being will come first,” she said. “I will never compromise on that.”

Vaccine skepticism dominated questions

Cassidy repeatedly asked Schwartz whether she would dismiss unreliable science, reflecting concerns about vaccine skepticism in the administration. She promised full transparency and said the CDC would “lead with humility.”

Senator Bernie Sanders pressed her on removing CDC website content that falsely links vaccines to autism. “Senator, we do not know what causes autism,” Schwartz replied. She acknowledged the scientific consensus that vaccines are not responsible but said she would consult Kennedy about the disputed material.

Her responses indicated an effort to uphold science while working in an administration where public health institutions face deep skepticism. The hearing left doubts about whether her approach would satisfy both lawmakers and the White House.

Schwartz’s military career—including her role as chief medical officer in the Coast Guard—could shield her from some political pressure. Civil service positions like deputy surgeon general are not political appointments, and her military record may reassure senators concerned about partisan influence at the CDC.

The agency’s recent instability has turned its leadership into a contentious issue. Monarez’s firing, seen as a refusal to politicize science, now serves as a benchmark for evaluating Schwartz’s independence.

The hearing ended without a set timeline for a confirmation vote. If approved, Schwartz would take charge of an agency still dealing with pandemic fallout and growing public doubt about its guidance.

During the session, lawmakers also discussed how high-altitude science experiments could inform public health research, though the topic remained secondary to the confirmation debate.