Senate confirms Erica Schwartz as CDC director in 51-44 vote

First permanent CDC director since Monarez’s firing

The Senate confirmed Dr. Erica Schwartz as director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on August 5, voting 51-44, according to The Guardian. The confirmation was a rare win for the Trump administration after a string of failed attempts to fill senior health posts, the outlet reported.

Schwartz is President Donald Trump’s third pick to run the CDC. The first nominee, former Florida congressman David Weldon, was withdrawn by the White House in March 2025 just before his confirmation hearing, The Guardian reported.

Schwartz will be the first permanent CDC director since Susan Monarez, Trump’s second pick, who was fired by Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the US health secretary, last year after less than a month in the role over a clash on vaccine policy.

Schwartz is set to take the reins of the agency after a period of leadership turnover, according to The Guardian.