Senate Confirmation Hearing Set for CDC Director Nominee Erica Schwartz
WHO:
CNN - Dr. Erica Schwartz, nominee for CDC director, former deputy surgeon general, retired US Coast Guard officer.
CNN - Sean Kaufman, nominee for Assistant Secretary of Preparedness and Response.
CNN - Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Secretary of Health and Human Services.
CNN - Dr. Amesh Adalja, senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security.
CNN - Toby Rogers, prominent vaccine critic.
CNN - Jay Bhattacharya, acting director of the CDC until March.
CNN - Susie Wiles, White House chief of staff.
CNN - Chris Klomp, Medicare chief and HHS chief counselor.
WHAT:
CNN - A White House official stated, “We just need someone who’s not crazy,” regarding the selection of Erica Schwartz as CDC director.
CNN - Schwartz's selection is seen as a notable departure from previous nominees who aligned with the "Make America Healthy Again" agenda.
CNN - The White House has been eager to distance the health department from unflattering headlines ahead of the midterm elections.
CNN - The CDC has faced a traumatic shooting and abrupt leadership changes, impacting its image as a respected public health agency.
CNN - Erica Schwartz is President Trump’s third pick to lead the CDC.
CNN - Schwartz is set to appear before the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee for her confirmation hearing.
CNN - The CDC has faced disease outbreaks, including an Ebola outbreak in central Africa and a spike in parasitic diarrhea across multiple states.
CNN - The White House is focused on stabilizing the CDC and avoiding damaging news cycles ahead of the midterm elections.
CNN - Schwartz's candidacy has generated hope for quick confirmation in the Senate.
WHERE:
CNN - The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, location of the confirmation hearing.
CNN - CDC headquarters in Atlanta.
WHEN:
CNN - Schwartz's confirmation hearing is scheduled for Wednesday.
WHY:
CNN - The Trump administration sought a new CDC director to bring stability after leadership changes and to restore faith in the agency.
CNN - The White House aimed to distance the health department from unflattering headlines and stabilize the agency ahead of the midterm elections.
CNN - Concerns about Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s vaccine agenda potentially harming the GOP in the midterms influenced the search for a new CDC director.
HOW:
CNN - Susie Wiles, the White House chief of staff, ordered a review of the Health and Human Services Department in late January.
CNN - Chris Klomp, Medicare chief, was named HHS’ chief counselor and has moved quickly to stabilize HHS and its various sub-agencies.
CNN - Klomp led the effort to identify and interview candidates for the CDC director position over several weeks.
CNN - The White House conducted a review of the Health and Human Services Department and orchestrated a shakeup of its leadership.
CNN - Chris Klomp led the effort to identify and interview candidates for the CDC director position.
(UPDATED July 15, 2026 16:24 UTC)
In a significant move, the White House has selected Erica Schwartz as the new CDC director, with a White House official stating, “We just need someone who’s not crazy,” highlighting a shift from previous nominees aligned with the "Make America Healthy Again" agenda. This decision comes as the White House aims to distance the health department from negative headlines, especially with the midterm elections approaching, following a series of challenges that have affected the CDC's reputation. To facilitate this transition, Susie Wiles, the White House chief of staff, initiated a review of the Health and Human Services Department earlier this year, leading to Chris Klomp being appointed as HHS’ chief counselor to stabilize the agency and oversee the selection process for Schwartz.
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(UPDATED July 15, 2026 12:21 UTC)
Dr. Erica Schwartz has been nominated by Trump to lead the CDC, marking his third choice for the position, and she is scheduled to appear before the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee for her confirmation hearing on Wednesday. The White House is prioritizing the stabilization of the CDC amid recent disease outbreaks and aims to distance the health department from negative headlines as the midterm elections approach. Schwartz's candidacy has sparked optimism for a swift confirmation, as the administration seeks to restore faith in the agency following leadership changes and concerns about the impact of Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s vaccine agenda on the GOP.