Trump Nominates Former Deputy Surgeon General to Lead CDC

Erica Schwartz's nomination comes amid turmoil at the public health agency.

Apr. 17, 2026 at 1:18am

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A serene, cinematic painting of the CDC headquarters building in Atlanta, Georgia, with the structure bathed in warm, diagonal sunlight and deep shadows, conveying a sense of quiet contemplation and uncertainty about the agency's future.The CDC headquarters in Atlanta faces an uncertain future as the agency navigates political turmoil under the Trump administration.Atlanta Today

President Donald Trump has nominated Erica Schwartz, a former deputy surgeon general, to be the next director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The Atlanta-based CDC has been in turmoil since Trump returned to office, with a succession of mostly temporary leaders and scientific leaders resigning in protest over political meddling in the agency's work.

Why it matters

The CDC is a critical public health agency charged with protecting Americans from preventable health threats, and its leadership has been in flux under the Trump administration. Schwartz's nomination comes as the administration has faced challenges in getting its preferred candidates confirmed to key health roles.

The details

Trump described Schwartz as 'incredibly talented' and a 'STAR!' in a social media post. The CDC has been overseen by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has promised to investigate the childhood vaccine schedule and attempted to rewrite vaccine recommendations, some of which were put on hold by a federal judge. Previous nominees to lead the CDC, including former Florida congressman Dr. David Weldon and Susan Monarez, have faced difficulties being confirmed or have been ousted, leading to a revolving door in agency leadership.

  • On Thursday, Trump nominated Erica Schwartz to be the next CDC director.
  • In March 2025, Trump's first pick to run the CDC, former Florida congressman Dr. David Weldon, had his Senate confirmation hearing canceled an hour before it was to begin.
  • In 2025, Susan Monarez was confirmed as CDC director but was ousted in less than a month, with the administration saying she wasn't aligned with their agenda.

The players

Erica Schwartz

A former deputy surgeon general who has been nominated by President Trump to be the next director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

The current Health Secretary who has overseen the CDC and promised to investigate the childhood vaccine schedule, attempting to rewrite vaccine recommendations.

Dr. David Weldon

A former Florida congressman who was Trump's first pick to run the CDC, but his March 2025 Senate confirmation hearing was canceled an hour before it was to begin.

Susan Monarez

She was confirmed as CDC director in 2025 but was ousted in less than a month, with the Trump administration saying she wasn't aligned with their agenda.

Jay Bhattacharya

The National Institutes of Health Director who has been overseeing the CDC in recent weeks.

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What they’re saying

“I think this new team is really going to be able to revolutionize CDC and get it back on track.”

— Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Health Secretary

“She is a STAR!”

— Donald Trump, President

What’s next

The Senate will need to confirm Erica Schwartz's nomination as the new CDC director.

The takeaway

The CDC has faced significant turmoil under the Trump administration, with a revolving door of leadership and concerns about political interference in the agency's scientific work. Schwartz's nomination comes as the administration has struggled to get its preferred candidates confirmed to key health roles, raising questions about the future direction of the CDC.