New CDC pick may face "threat to follow ideology over evidence," ex-official says

Face The Nation Trump's new pick for CDC leader may face "threat to follow ideology over evidence," former surgeon general warns .chip { background-image: url('/fly/bundles/cbsnewscore/images/chip-bgd/chip-bgd-face-the-nation.jpg'); } By Kerry Breen Kerry Breen News Editor Kerry Breen is a news editor at CBSNews.com. A graduate of New York University's Arthur L. Carter School of Journalism, she previously worked at NBC News' TODAY Digital. She covers current events, breaking news and issues including substance use. Read Full Bio Kerry Breen April 19, 2026 / 12:58 PM EDT / CBS News Add CBS News on Google Dr. Erica Schwartz, President Trump's new nominee to lead the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, is a "home run pick" but may face pressure from the "vaccine-skeptical" Robert F. Kennedy's Health and Human Services Department if confirmed to the role, former Surgeon General Jerome Adams said Sunday.Adams was Mr. Trump's Surgeon General during his first term in office. During that time, Schwartz was Adams' deputy Surgeon General. Polls suggested "that Republicans were going to pay in the midterm election if they continued on an anti-vaccine push," Adams said on "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan," but Schwartz is "objectively the most qualified health nominee we've seen from this administration so far." Schwartz is a graduate of Brown University's medical school and holds a law degree from the University of Maryland. She also spent 24 years in the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps. Currently, Schwartz oversees dozens of Coast Guard facilities as the agency's director of health, safety and work-life.  Dr. Erica Schwartz. U.S. Coast Guard Adams said his optimism about Schwartz's qualifications came "with a health dose of caution about the environment" at the CDC and HHS. The previous CDC director, Susan Monarez, was ousted from the role just weeks after her confirmation following clashes with Kennedy. Several other top CDC officia...