{"id":2123,"date":"2026-08-05T23:30:07","date_gmt":"2026-08-05T23:30:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.asianewscast.com\/?p=2123"},"modified":"2026-08-05T23:30:07","modified_gmt":"2026-08-05T23:30:07","slug":"erica-schwartz-confirmed-as-new-cdc-chief-amid-us-agency-turmoil","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.asianewscast.com\/?p=2123","title":{"rendered":"Erica Schwartz confirmed as new CDC chief amid US agency turmoil"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"rich-share\" data-testid=\"rich-share\">\n<div class=\"rich-share__divider\">\n<div class=\"listen-to-article\"><button class=\"listen-to-article__button\" data-testid=\"listen-to-article-button\"><title>Listen<\/title>Listen (2 mins)<\/button><\/div>\n<div class=\"rich-share__update-reading-list-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"update-reading-list\">\n<p class=\"update-reading-list__button-text\">Save<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"rich-share__wrapper\">\n<div class=\"rich-share__button-wrapper\"><button class=\"rich-share__button row\" aria-expanded=\"false\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"screen-reader-text\">Click here to share on social media<\/div>\n<p><title>share-nodes<\/title><\/button><\/p>\n<p class=\"rich-share__social-text\">Share<\/p>\n<div class=\"rich-share__links rich-share__links--row\" data-testid=\"share-links\">\n<div class=\"rich-share__social rich-share__social--row\"><a class=\"rich-share__social-link row\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" aria-label=\"Share on Facebook\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Faje.news%2F20f6fv\"><title>facebook<\/title><\/a><a class=\"rich-share__social-link row\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" aria-label=\"Share on Twitter\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=Erica%20Schwartz%20confirmed%20as%20new%20CDC%20chief%20amid%20US%20agency%20turmoil&amp;source=sharethiscom&amp;related=sharethis&amp;via=AJEnglish&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Faje.news%2F20f6fv\"><title>x<\/title><\/a><a class=\"rich-share__social-link row u-hidden--desktop\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" aria-label=\"Share on Whatsapp\" href=\"\/\/send?text=https%3A%2F%2Faje.news%2F20f6fv\"><title>whatsapp-stroke<\/title><\/a><a class=\"rich-share__social-link row copylink\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" aria-label=\"Copy link\" href=\"https:\/\/aje.news\/20f6fv\"><title>copylink<\/title><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"google-preferred-source\"><button class=\"google-preferred-source__button\" aria-label=\"Add Al Jazeera on Google\" data-testid=\"google-preferred-source-button\"><title>google<\/title><span class=\"google-preferred-source__text\">Add Al Jazeera on Google<\/span><\/button><button aria-label=\"See more of Al Jazeera\u2019s trusted journalism by adding us as a preferred source on Google.\" class=\"tooltip-accessible_trigger\"><title>info<\/title><\/button><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-featured__media\">\n<figure class=\"article-featured-image\">\n<div class=\"responsive-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"eager\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/ap_6a73a5026df40-1785963778.jpg?resize=770%2C513&amp;quality=80\" alt=\"Erica Schwartz testifies during a Senate Health Education Labor and Pensions committee confirmation hearing to be the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Capitol Hill, Wednesday, July 15, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo\/Mariam Zuhaib)\"><\/div><figcaption>Erica Schwartz testifies during a Senate committee confirmation hearing to be the director of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, on Capitol Hill, Washington, DC, July 15, 2026 [Mariam Zuhaib\/AP Photo]<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-info m--t-20 m--desktop-b-30 m--b-mobile-20\">\n<div class=\"byline byline--single-avatar\">\n<div class=\"avatars-container\"><a class=\"avatar\" aria-hidden=\"true\" href=\"\/author\/al_jazeera_staff_150119130629458\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"responsive-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/2017-06-08T131939Z_1189275883_RC11B0FE7F20_RTRMADP_3_GULF-QATAR-JAZEERA-1714943623.jpg?resize=96%2C96&amp;quality=80\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/div>\n<p><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"byline-content\">\n<div class=\"contributors-list contributors-list--byline\"><span class=\"contributors-list__by-prefix\">By <\/span><a href=\"\/author\/al_jazeera_staff_150119130629458\">Al Jazeera Staff<\/a>, <!-- -->Reuters<!-- --> and <!-- -->The Associated Press<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-dates\">\n<div class=\"date-simple\"><span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Published On 5 Aug 2026<\/span><span aria-hidden=\"true\">5 Aug 2026<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wysiwyg wysiwyg--all-content\" aria-live=\"polite\">\n<p>The United States Senate has confirmed Dr Erica Schwartz as the new head of the <a href=\"\/news\/2026\/1\/6\/alarms-raised-as-trumps-cdc-cuts-number-of-suggested-vaccines-for-children\">Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)<\/a>, as the federal health agency struggles with low morale and mass resignations since President Donald Trump\u2019s return to office.<\/p>\n<p>The Senate confirmed Schwartz in a 51-44 vote on Wednesday, making the 54-year-old the agency\u2019s first confirmed director since the Trump administration fired <a href=\"\/news\/2025\/8\/28\/total-implosion-how-trump-firing-of-cdc-chief-monarez-sparked-an-exodus\">Susan Monarez<\/a> last year over disputes regarding vaccine policy.<\/p>\n<section class=\"more-on\">\n<h2 class=\"more-on__heading\">Recommended Stories<!-- --> <\/h2>\n<p><span class=\"screen-reader-text\">list of 3 items<\/span><\/p>\n<ul class=\"more-on__list\">\n<li class=\"more-on__article\"><span class=\"screen-reader-text\">list 1 of 3<\/span><a class=\"more-on__link\" href=\"\/news\/2026\/7\/30\/trump-cuts-who-off-from-gavi-vaccine-alliance\">Trump cuts WHO off from Gavi vaccine alliance funding<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"more-on__article\"><span class=\"screen-reader-text\">list 2 of 3<\/span><a class=\"more-on__link\" href=\"\/news\/2026\/7\/31\/us-senates-fauci-hearing-renews-covid-origin-debate-but-reveals-little\">US Senate\u2019s Fauci hearing renews COVID origin debate but reveals little<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"more-on__article\"><span class=\"screen-reader-text\">list 3 of 3<\/span><a class=\"more-on__link\" href=\"\/news\/2026\/8\/3\/us-announces-first-two-deaths-from-cyclospora-outbreak\">US announces first two deaths from cyclospora outbreak in Michigan<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span class=\"screen-reader-text\">end of list<\/span><\/section>\n<p>\u201cWith <a href=\"\/news\/2025\/8\/12\/gunman-who-attacked-cdc-aimed-to-send-message-against-covid-vaccine-police\">all the turmoil<\/a> of the past two years, the CDC desperately needs stability, experienced leadership and a steadfast commitment to science,\u201d Dr Georges Benjamin of the American Public Health Association said in a statement Wednesday.<\/p>\n<p>Schwartz\u2019s confirmation previously appeared in doubt as lawmakers questioned whether she would operate the agency based on scientific information or the demands of the president.<\/p>\n<div style=\"display:block;position:relative;min-width:0px;max-width:770px\">\n<\/div>\n<p>During a hearing before the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions last month, Republican Bill Cassidy questioned whether Schwartz would remain firm if pressured by the administration.<\/p>\n<p>Cassidy later seemed to change his mind, stating that he had spoken with Schwartz and gained more confidence in her.<\/p>\n<p>Layoffs and resignations at the CDC have resulted in the loss of about 3,000 workers, many of whom expressed frustration with vaccine policies promoted by Health and Human Services Secretary <a href=\"\/news\/2025\/6\/9\/robert-kennedy-jr-expels-all-17-members-of-cdc-vaccine-panel\">Robert F Kennedy Jr<\/a> that fly in the face of longstanding scientific and public health consensus.<\/p>\n<div class=\"container--ads in-article-ads\">\n<div class=\"ads\"><span class=\"ads__title\"> Advertisement <\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Schwartz was Trump\u2019s third nominee for the position in just 18 months, and public health experts have expressed cautious optimism that she would bring a qualified background to the troubled agency.<\/p>\n<div style=\"display:block;position:relative;min-width:0px;max-width:770px\">\n<\/div>\n<p>She has medical and law degrees and previously served as deputy surgeon general, but will face considerable problems at the agency as the US experiences the worst <a href=\"\/news\/2026\/7\/24\/us-records-2318-measles-cases-thus-far-in-2026-passing-2025-total\">Measles resurgence<\/a> in three decades, falling childhood vaccination rates, and a <a href=\"\/news\/2026\/8\/3\/us-announces-first-two-deaths-from-cyclospora-outbreak\">cyclospora outbreak<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNow, Dr Schwartz needs to prove that her leadership will serve science and not the whims of politicians. CDC needs a Director who will protect public health workers, defend evidence-based guidance, and refuse any directive that would undermine public safety,\u201d the National Public Health Coalition, an organisation of former and current CDC workers, said in a statement on Wednesday.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>ListenListen (2 mins) Save Click here to share on social media share-nodes Share facebookxwhatsapp-strokecopylink googleAdd Al Jazeera on Googleinfo Erica Schwartz testifies during a Senate committee confirmation hearing to be the director of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, on Capitol Hill, Washington, DC, July 15, 2026 [Mariam Zuhaib\/AP Photo] By Al Jazeera [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2123","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.2 - 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