Trump Nominates Erica Schwartz for CDC Head

0:00On April 17, Donald Trump dropped a big announcement, nominating Erica Schwartz to head up the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. She's a rear admiral in the Coast Guard, with a medical degree, law degree, masters in public health, and over 20 years in the Navy and public. Health service. Trump called her a star on true social. Schwartz served as Deputy Surgeon General from 2019 to 2021 during his first term. She steps in after Acting Director Jay Bhattacharya Stint expired last month under the Vacancies Act, which caps those roles at 210 days. Without Senate approval, the CDC has faced rough times lately, including staff layoffs, sinking morale, and a heartbreaking shooting outside its Atlanta headquarters that killed a police officer. The last confirmed director, Susan Monarez, got fired in less than a month after clashing with Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Kennedy's crew, has moved to slow vaccine research and guidance since Trump took office in January.

1:00Critics worry about anti-vaccine influences creeping in. Schwartz still needs Senate confirmation to take the wheel, so keep an eye on how this plays out for public health, moving forward.