President Trump announced his nomination of Dr. Erica Schwartz, a retired Rear Admiral and former deputy surgeon general, to lead the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention after the agency operated without confirmed leadership for nearly his entire second term.
Military Physician Takes CDC Helm
Schwartz brings extensive military medical experience to the role, having served as chief medical officer of the U.S. Coast Guard before becoming deputy surgeon general during Trump’s first administration. A board-certified preventive medicine physician, she holds a medical degree from Brown University and a law degree. Trump praised her distinguished military service in announcing the nomination on Truth Social, calling her a star with top degrees and experience.
The nomination requires Senate confirmation, a process expected to take several months. During that time, Dr. Jay Bhattacharya will continue leading the CDC in an acting capacity while simultaneously directing the National Institutes of Health. Bhattacharya assumed the interim CDC role in February after the agency spent all but one month of Trump’s second term without confirmed leadership.
New Leadership Team Assembled
Trump announced three additional executive appointments alongside Schwartz’s nomination. Sean Slovenski, a former Walmart executive, will serve as CDC deputy director and chief operating officer. Dr. Jennifer Shuford, currently Texas health commissioner, was named deputy director and chief medical officer. Dr. Sara Brenner, a senior FDA official, will become senior counselor for public health to the health secretary.
What This Means
If confirmed, Schwartz will report to Robert F. Kennedy Jr., secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, who oversees the CDC. Trump stated the collective appointments would restore the gold standard of science at the agency. The nomination comes as the CDC faces scrutiny over reduced health alerts that some physicians say leave doctors operating without critical public health information. The Senate confirmation process will determine whether Schwartz can implement the administration’s vision for reshaping America’s premier public health institution.