Erica Schwartz, nominated by former President Trump in April 2026 to lead the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), underwent a confirmation hearing before the Senate health committee on Wednesday, July 15th, 2026. During the hearing, Schwartz, who previously served as a deputy surgeon general in the first Trump administration, pledged she “will never betray the science” and promised to use “major transparency” to restore public trust in the agency.

Senators pressed Schwartz on whether she would resist pressure from her boss, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., known for his anti-vaccine stance and controversial changes to U.S. vaccine policies. Schwartz repeatedly deflected direct answers but assured the committee chair, Senator Bill Cassidy, a Louisiana Republican and physician, that Kennedy “will absolutely allow me to be CDC director.” Cassidy emphasized the need for a CDC director who will “actually stand up to crazy, stupid things being said that undermine faith in immunization.”

Democratic Senator Maggie Hassan questioned Schwartz about a directive from Kennedy to suspend promotion of a flu vaccination campaign during a deadly flu season, citing internal CDC emails released by Senator Bernie Sanders in June 2026. Schwartz did not directly address how she would respond to such orders.

The committee appeared likely to approve Schwartz, 54, with Trump calling her “incredibly talented” in a post on Truth Social. Schwartz’s nomination follows the withdrawal of the first nominee, former Florida congressman David Weldon, in March 2025 just before his confirmation hearing.

Sources