Cumberland Times-News
·Jul 2026
Senate committee advances nomination of Dr. Erica Schwartz to be Trump's CDC director
The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee advanced Dr. Erica Schwartz’s nomination to lead the CDC despite concerns that she may not resist political interference. Supporters, including Chairman Bill Cassidy, praised her qualifications and expressed confidence in her independence, while Sen. Bernie Sanders and public-health advocates criticized her answers as incomplete and sought stronger commitments on scientific independence, evidence-based vaccine policy and conflicts of interest. The nomination comes as the CDC faces major layoffs, leadership turnover and controversy over changes to federal health guidance under the Trump administration and HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.