Erica Schwartz, President Donald Trump’s nominee to lead the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, expressed support for vaccines — including mRNA-based Covid shots — at a Senate hearing on Wednesday, though she did not address concerns the agency has lost any independence from the White House.
“I’ve been vaccinating people my entire career in the uniformed services. I believe in vaccines,” Schwartz said at the hearing. “I am confident that mRNA technology is safe and effective.”
His position differs from that of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who ousted Trump’s previous CDC director, Susan Monarez, after a dispute with her over the vaccine. Kennedy, a longtime anti-vaccine activist, has baselessly called mRNA vaccines the deadliest yet.
Schwartz “has dedicated his career to protecting the health of the American people.” HHS spokeswoman Emily Hilliard said in an emailed statement. “The President nominated him because of that exemplary record, and Secretary Kennedy looks forward to working with him to advance the public health priorities of the Administration.”
The CDC had a Senate-confirmed leader for only a month during Trump’s second term, and the agency was riven by the administration’s cuts to public health funding, the firing of scientists and other career staff, and efforts to curtail access to childhood vaccines and COVID shots.
Schwartz, who was deputy surgeon general in Trump’s first administration and is the former chief medical officer of the Coast Guard, has support in the public health community, where there are hopes she can restore credibility to the agency she will lead.
Schwartz told senators, “Wherever the science leads, I will follow it.” “My first priority will be to restore confidence in public health institutions.”
Democrats and some Republicans have expressed skepticism that Schwartz will maintain more independence from Kennedy than Monarez, who has said she was fired in August after Kennedy refused to sign off on changes to vaccine recommendations and sought cuts in personnel. one in series of emails Accompanied by Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT), it was revealed that Kennedy had pressured Monárez to change CDC guidance regarding universal childhood flu vaccination.
“Monárez refuses to act as a rubber stamp for Secretary Kennedy’s very dangerous agenda,” Sanders said at the July 15 confirmation hearing for Schwartz on the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee. “Frankly, she stood up to protect the well-being of the American people.”
The chairman of the committee, Senator Bill Cassidy (R-La.), pressed Schwartz on whether she would take action against the policies based on rhetoric or science.
“We need impartial leaders who will make decisions based on science, not politics or ideology,” Cassidy said. “This is not a theoretical thing.”
Cassidy, a physician, has also feuded with Kennedy over vaccines. He lost the Republican primary for re-election in May after Trump endorsed one of his opponents. Despite the break with the White House, Schwartz certainly needs Cassidy’s support to seek confirmation. This requires a public commitment to supporting vaccination and mainstream science.
Schwartz told the committee that she would “never compromise” on science.
“The president would never ask me not to follow the law,” he said. “But I will always follow the law.”
Several Democrats on the committee raised concerns about the politicization of public health by the administration. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) asked about “political cleansing” of research grants. Trump officials have canceled several research grants under the CDC and the National Institutes of Health for political reasons, including those targeting diversity, equity and inclusion efforts.
“Restoring trust in CDC is my No. 1 priority,” Schwartz said. “Scientific integrity is fundamental.”
Georges Benjamin, CEO of the American Public Health Association, Endorsed Schwartz in April“He has the medical background and public health knowledge to understand that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention should be guided by evidence-based science,” he said.
APHA has fought against many of Trump’s initiatives on public health. Following Monarez’s resignation, the organization issued a news release The headline was “Kennedy’s attack on public health must be stopped.”
Schwartz told the committee that if confirmed, he would commit to “radical transparency” and modernization.
Schwartz expressed support for one of Kennedy’s initiatives: he told senators that he believed nutrition education and physical fitness evaluations were important.
“I’m on board with the agenda to make America healthy again,” he said.
At a July 15 hearing, Schwartz faced questioning from Sean Kauffman, Trump’s pick for HHS assistant secretary for preparedness and response.
Cassidy called out Coffman for past comments casting doubt on the efficacy of the vaccines. The senator spoke out, accusing Kauffman of spreading “those lies.”
Kaufman was friendly. “Let me be clear: vaccines save lives,” he said. “They are safe and effective.”
If confirmed by the Senate, Schwartz would replace Jay Bhattacharya, who has been performing the duties of CDC director but is not officially acting director. Bhattacharya is also the director of NIH.
