Schwartz confirmed as CDC director after bungling confirmation hearing
Schwartz is well-qualified for the role, but crashed and burned in Senate hearing.
On Wednesday, the United States Senate voted 51-44 in favor of confirming Erica Schwartz as the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This marked a year-long gap in the position, following the dismissal of Susan Monarez by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. in August. Monarez's removal stemmed from her refusal to follow Kennedy's orders to endorse vaccine recommendations from a panel consisting of Kennedy's carefully chosen advisors, who shared the same anti-vaccine sentiments as him.
Schwartz possesses the necessary qualifications to assume the role. With a medical degree, a master's degree in public health, and a law degree under her belt, she has also served in various leadership positions throughout her career. These include her tenure as a Navy officer, chief medical officer for the US Coast Guard, and deputy surgeon general during the first Trump administration.
Her advocacy for vaccines and outbreak preparedness has been well-documented, making her a suitable choice for the CDC directorship.
Written by urgent.news from Ars Technica's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
