Trump Taps Longtime Public Health Veteran to Lead CDC

Erica Schwartz's nomination signals a shift away from vaccine skepticism ahead of midterm elections.

Apr. 18, 2026 at 4:49pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A serene, cinematic painting depicting the exterior of a CDC building or medical equipment, with warm sunlight casting long shadows across the scene, conveying a sense of quiet contemplation and stability in the face of recent turmoil.The nomination of a respected public health veteran to lead the CDC signals a potential shift in the administration's approach to vaccine policy.Atlanta Today

President Trump has selected Erica Schwartz, a longtime civil servant and public health veteran, to lead the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Schwartz's nomination is seen as a move away from the administration's previous rhetoric of vaccine skepticism as it focuses on the upcoming midterm elections.

Why it matters

Schwartz's nomination represents a potential shift in the administration's approach to public health and vaccine policy, which has been a source of controversy and concern during Trump's first term. Her selection could signal a desire to restore credibility and stability to the CDC, which has faced multiple leadership changes, budget cuts, and criticism from the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) movement led by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

The details

Schwartz, who previously served as deputy surgeon general during Trump's first term, is seen as a traditional pick for the CDC director position. She has no public record of opposing vaccinations and is not affiliated with the MAHA movement. Before her stint as deputy surgeon general, Schwartz served as chief medical officer for the U.S. Coast Guard, where she led disease surveillance programs and wrote policies on pandemic influenza, Ebola, and other viral disease outbreaks.

  • On Thursday, April 18, 2026, President Trump announced Schwartz's nomination to lead the CDC.
  • Schwartz would be the fourth person to lead the CDC in less than a year, replacing the previous Senate-confirmed director, Susan Monarez, who was fired less than a month into the job following a disagreement over vaccines.

The players

Erica Schwartz

Schwartz is a longtime civil servant and public health veteran who has been nominated by President Trump to lead the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). She previously served as deputy surgeon general during Trump's first term and has a distinguished career in public health, including leading disease surveillance programs and writing policies on pandemic influenza and other viral diseases while serving as chief medical officer for the U.S. Coast Guard.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

Kennedy is the Health Secretary in the Trump administration and the leader of the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) movement, which has been critical of vaccine policies and has taken actions to reduce vaccine access, including dismissing a key panel of experts that advises the CDC on vaccine decisions and replacing them with his own picks.

Susan Monarez

Monarez was the previous Senate-confirmed director of the CDC, who was fired less than a month into the job following a disagreement over vaccines.

Jerome Adams

Adams served as surgeon general during the first Trump administration and personally selected Erica Schwartz as his deputy.

David Mansdoerfer

Mansdoerfer is a former senior Department of Health and Human Services official in the first Trump administration who praised Schwartz as the perfect pick to lead the CDC.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“If allowed to follow the science without political interference, she'll excel.”

— Jerome Adams, Former Surgeon General

“I had the pleasure of working with her while she was the deputy Surgeon General, and I think she's very open minded, and follows the evidence and is willing to have conversations on any topic and give you what she thinks is the best course of action.”

— David Mansdoerfer, Former Senior HHS Official

What’s next

The Senate will need to confirm Erica Schwartz's nomination to lead the CDC.

The takeaway

Schwartz's nomination represents a potential shift in the Trump administration's approach to public health and vaccine policy, as it seeks to tamp down on vaccine skepticism ahead of the midterm elections. Her traditional public health credentials and lack of ties to the MAHA movement suggest the administration may be looking to restore credibility and stability to the CDC.