NewzErica Schwartz was confirmed as the first Senate-approved CDC director in nearly a year, succeeding acting leader Susan Monarez. US public health agency faces toughest test as Schwartz takes charge amid political pressure and public health crises. In our news wrap Wednesday, the Senate confirmed Dr.
Erica Schwartz as the new director of the CDC, FAA officials are investigating an incident involving President Trump's helicopter and a commercial aircraft, Iran says it's in the final stage of drafting a deal with Oman that would reopen the Strait of Hormuz and UK authorities arrested a woman after four people were stabbed in Covent Garden. Schwartz is a board-certified preventive medicine physician who served as the US Coast Guard's chief medical officer from 2015 to 2019 and holds both medical and law degrees. NEW YORK (AP) — The Senate on Wednesday confirmed Dr.
Erica Schwartz as director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, placing her in charge of a public health agency beleaguered by political meddling and low morale.Schwartz was confirmed in a 51-44 vote. The 54-year-old becomes the 22nd leader of the Atlanta-based CDC, which is charged with protecting Americans from preventable health threats, and the agency's first confirmed director in nearly a year. Her resume includes medical and law degrees, a stint as deputy surgeon general, and a leadership position at the U.S.
Coast Guard.Schwartz's nomination appeared to be on shaky ground after a hearing before the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee last month. Bill Cassidy, R-La., and others questioned whether she would be willing to stand up to Republican President Donald Trump’s health secretary, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., if he ordered CDC to do something unsupported by science and good public health practice.But weeks later, Cassidy said he had spoken with Schwartz after that hearing and with others who knew her, and said he had gained confidence in her.U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services officials did not immediately respond to questions about when Schwartz will start the job or her salary.The CDC has been in turmoil since Trump returned to office last year.Largely due to layoffs and resignations, the agency has lost 3,000-plus employees, more than one-quarter of its workforce. Morale has plummeted as a succession of mostly temporary leaders has come and gone. The front office has been staffed by political appointees with little or no training in medicine or public health.“Now, 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,” said the National Public Health Coalition, an organization of former and current CDC workers, in a statement Wednesday.When Schwartz was nominated in April, public health experts were cautiously optimistic, citing her background. They also noted that Schwartz was the choice of Trump and not Kennedy, who is a leading voice in the anti-vaccine movement before he was tapped to oversee the CDC and other federal health agencies.Sch…
Summary from source