# Erica Schwartz Confirmed as CDC Director After Nearly a Year Without Leader 2026-08-07T00:41:27+00:00 | World & Diplomacy | Indian Opinion Desk Corroboration: 1 independent outlet The US Senate confirmed Erica Schwartz as director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention by a 51-44 vote, giving the agency a permanent leader after almost a year. Republican senators backed her, joined by Democratic Senator Tim Kaine. Schwartz, a physician who worked at the Department of Health and Human Services during Donald Trump's first term, becomes Trump's third choice for the post. Her confirmation followed a difficult hearing on July 15, where senators questioned her ability to work with Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and her willingness to resist policies she considered unscientific or harmful. Schwartz said she would work to restore trust in the CDC, but did not promise to alert Congress in such circumstances. Some public health leaders withdrew support after the hearing. She inherits an agency facing low morale, staffing shortages and nearly a year without steady political leadership. Senator Bill Cassidy, who had earlier expressed doubts, ultimately supported her after discussions. ## Coverage - timesnownews.com Tags: CDC, Donald Trump, Erica Schwartz, public health, US politics Canonical: https://indianopinion.org/erica-schwartz-confirmed-as-cdc-director-after-nearly-a-year-without-leader/ License: Summary and commentary (c) Indian Opinion, reusable with attribution. Facts belong to the linked sources. Cite: https://indianopinion.org/erica-schwartz-confirmed-as-cdc-director-after-nearly-a-year-without-leader/#story-in-brief Review state: restored archive article, accurate at time of publication, not offered to search indexes.