President Donald Trump announced on April 16, 2026, that he is nominating Dr. Erica Schwartz to serve as director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Schwartz is a rear admiral in the U.S. Coast Guard and previously served as Trump’s deputy surgeon general during his first presidential term.
Schwartz holds a medical degree from Brown University and a law degree from the University of Maryland. She currently directs health, safety, and work-life programs for the Coast Guard, overseeing 41 clinics and 150 sick bays within the branch. Her responsibilities have included instituting vaccination policies for anthrax and smallpox, managing disaster responses, and contributing to efforts during the Ebola outbreak.
On social media platform Truth Social, Trump praised Schwartz as “incredibly talented” and called her “a STAR!” The president also announced appointments for other CDC leadership roles, including Sean Slovenski as deputy director and chief operating officer, and Dr. Jennifer Shuford as deputy director and chief medical officer.
Additionally, Dr. Sara Brenner will serve as senior counselor for public health to Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., according to Trump.
The CDC has been without a permanent director since Susan Monarez was removed less than a month after her 2025 Senate confirmation. NIH Director Dr. Jay Bhattacharya has been serving as acting CDC director in the interim.
Why it matters
Dr. Schwartz’s nomination comes amid ongoing scrutiny of the CDC’s leadership and policy directions following recent controversies and leadership turnover. Trump’s appointments signal his intent to reshape the agency’s leadership with individuals he describes as having strong scientific credentials and operational experience.
Background
The CDC plays a critical role in managing public health crises and disease prevention in the United States. Leadership changes at the agency affect how policies are implemented, especially in areas such as vaccination, infectious disease response, and public health communication. Schwartz’s background in military health administration and her previous role as deputy surgeon general position her as an experienced candidate familiar with federal health operations.
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