Trump Nominates Retired Admiral to Lead Beleaguered CDC

Erica Schwartz, a physician and former Coast Guard medical official, needs Senate confirmation to take over the agency.

Apr. 17, 2026 at 2:10am

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A serene, cinematic painting of the exterior of a government building in warm, golden light, evoking a sense of quiet contemplation around the challenges facing the CDC.The nomination of a new CDC director comes at a critical juncture for the beleaguered public health agency.Atlanta Today

President Trump has nominated retired Rear Adm. Erica Schwartz to be the new director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which has been without a permanent chief for months. Schwartz, a physician and former senior Coast Guard medical official, needs Senate confirmation to hold the job at the beleaguered agency.

Why it matters

The CDC has been dealing with leadership turnover, low morale, staff departures, and sweeping shifts in federal vaccine recommendations under Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. The agency was also the target of an Aug. 8 shooting attack at its Atlanta headquarters, further destabilizing the public health organization.

The details

Trump described Schwartz in a social media post on Thursday as "incredibly talented" and a "STAR". She had the nonpolitical job of deputy surgeon general during Trump's first term. The CDC has been overseen by an acting director, Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, whose temporary authority lapsed last month under the federal Vacancies Act, which caps acting service at 210 days for positions requiring Senate approval. That deadline was triggered when the previous director, Dr. Susan Monarez, was dismissed 210 days earlier. Monarez, the only Senate-confirmed CDC director so far in Trump's second term, held the post for less than a month last summer.

  • Schwartz was deputy surgeon general during Trump's first term.
  • Monarez was dismissed as CDC director 210 days ago, triggering the Vacancies Act deadline.
  • Bhattacharya's temporary authority as acting CDC director lapsed last month.

The players

Erica Schwartz

A retired Rear Admiral, physician, and former senior Coast Guard medical official who has been nominated by President Trump to be the new director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

The current Health and Human Services Secretary, who has been overseeing sweeping shifts in federal vaccine recommendations at the CDC.

Dr. Jay Bhattacharya

The acting director of the CDC whose temporary authority lapsed last month under the federal Vacancies Act.

Dr. Susan Monarez

The only Senate-confirmed CDC director so far in Trump's second term, who held the post for less than a month last summer before being dismissed.

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What they’re saying

“When I was a military physician, my job was all about readiness. It was all about public health prevention, vaccines, early detection. If we get that right, we change lives before illness ever begins.”

— Erica Schwartz, Retired Rear Admiral and Nominee for CDC Director

What’s next

Schwartz needs to be confirmed by the Senate before she can officially take over as the new CDC director.

The takeaway

The nomination of Erica Schwartz to lead the CDC comes at a critical time for the agency, which has faced significant turmoil and leadership changes under the Trump administration. Schwartz's background in public health prevention and vaccines could help stabilize the CDC, but her confirmation process will be closely watched given the agency's central role in the nation's pandemic response.