WASHINGTON (AURN News) — After months of upheaval at the nation’s top public health agency, President Donald Trump has named a permanent pick to lead the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The nominee is Dr. Erica Schwartz, a retired rear admiral and military physician who spent decades in the U.S. Navy and Coast Guard, and if confirmed, she would become the first Black woman to lead the CDC.
During Trump’s first term, she served as deputy surgeon general, helping lead the early COVID-19 response.
She would inherit an agency in turmoil since Trump’s second term began. The CDC has had four leaders in less than a year.
The first nominee was withdrawn before his confirmation hearing. The only confirmed director, Dr. Susan Monarez, was fired four weeks later for reportedly refusing to sign off on vaccine policy changes demanded by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Several top scientists also resigned in protest.
Senate confirmation is required for the nomination.
Click play to listen to the report from AURN White House Correspondent Ebony McMorris. For more news, follow @E_N_McMorris & @aurnonline.
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