Trump nominates former Coast Guard doctor as CDC chief

Health Trump nominates former Coast Guard doctor as CDC chief April 16, 20264:58 PM ET Pien Huang Dr. Erica Schwartz is President Trump's nominee for CDC director. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services hide caption toggle caption U.S. Department of Health and Human Services President Trump has nominated Dr. Erica Schwartz, who served as deputy surgeon general in his first administration, to serve as the next director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The nation's embattled public health agency has been without a confirmed leader for all but a month of Trump's second term. "Erica graduated from Brown University for College and Medical School, and served a distinguished career as a Doctor of Medicine in the United States Military, the Greatest and Most Powerful Force in the World, and then served as my Deputy Surgeon General during my First Term. She is a STAR!" Trump posted on Truth Social. Sponsor Message He also announced three additional executive appointments to CDC: Sean Slovenski, a former Walmart executive, as the CDC deputy director and chief operating officer; Dr. Jennifer Shuford, the Texas health commissioner, as deputy director and chief medical officer; and Dr. Sara Brenner, a top deputy at the Food and Drug Administration, as senior counselor for public health to the health secretary. Trump cited their collective "knowledge, experience, and TOP degrees" which he said in his post would "restore the GOLD STANDARD OF SCIENCE at the CDC." The CDC director role nominee requires Senate approval. The CDC is currently led by Dr. Jay Bhattacharya in an acting capacity; he is also director of the National Institutes of Health. He took over as CDC lead in February, and is expected to continue in the role during the Senate confirmation process, which could take several months. Schwartz, if confirmed, would work under Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, who oversees the CDC. Schwartz is a retired...