The Trump administration is expected to select Erica Schwartz, a former deputy surgeon general and retired rear admiral, as the next permanent director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), according to a report published Tuesday.
The Wall Street Journal, citing people familiar with the matter, reported that the selection is pending final approval from President Donald Trump and is not yet confirmed.
The CDC did not immediately respond to Benzinga‘s request for comment.
A Candidate Built For Consensus?
Schwartz, a physician board-certified in preventive medicine, holds a master’s degree in public health and a law degree from Brown University.
Schwartz served as deputy surgeon general during Trump's first term in a nonpolitical civil service role. She spent more than two decades in uniform, rising to rear admiral and chief medical officer of the U.S. Coast Guard. Her background emphasizes preventive medicine, including vaccines and early detection, areas she highlighted in a recent public message about improving health outcomes before illness begins.
These credentials are seen as important for securing Senate confirmation and limiting political friction, the Journal reported. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and HHS Deputy Chris Klomp interviewed candidates and recommended Schwartz to the president.
Leadership Vacuum And Agency Turmoil
The CDC has operated without a permanent director since August, following the ouster of Susan Monarez.
Jay Bhattacharya has served as acting director since February while also leading the National Institutes of Health. The agency has faced sustained turnover in senior leadership, contributing to internal instability and low morale. In 2025, the Department of Health and Human Services proposed a restructuring plan to cut 10,000 jobs and reduce its workforce, including agencies like the CDC and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Vaccine Policy Remains A Flashpoint
The nomination arrives amid sustained controversy over federal vaccine guidance. The CDC previously paused diagnostic testing for 27 infectious diseases and revised its COVID-19 and childhood immunization recommendations, changes that drew criticism from the American Academy of Pediatrics. Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE) CEO Albert Bourla publicly described Kennedy’s vaccine positions as anti-science earlier this year and said progress on immunization policy required a leadership change.
Disclaimer: This content was produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
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