The U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee has voted to advance the nomination of Dr. Erica Schwartz to lead the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, bringing her closer to confirmation by the full Senate. If confirmed, Schwartz would take the helm of an agency that has experienced significant leadership turmoil.
Senator Tim Kaine, a Virginia Democrat, announced his support for Schwartz, stating that the agency "desperately" needs confirmed leadership. He cited several public health concerns, including measles, screwworm, hantavirus, Ebola, and cyclosporiasis, as reasons for needing a confirmed director. Kaine indicated that Schwartz possesses the necessary qualifications for the role.
The committee, on which Kaine sits, was scheduled to vote on Schwartz's nomination on Thursday. Republicans are expected to support her, following the lead of the panel's chair, Bill Cassidy of Louisiana. Kaine's backing is seen as crucial for her smooth confirmation on the Senate floor.
Schwartz's nomination marks a potentially rare instance of a Democrat supporting a Trump administration nominee for the Department of Health and Human Services. Previously, Marty Makary, former FDA Commissioner, and Gary Andres, Assistant Secretary for Legislative Affairs, received Democratic votes.
Kaine had previously expressed uncertainty about Schwartz's nomination but stated he regretted voting against a prior CDC nominee, Dr. Susan Monarez. Monarez was confirmed last year but was later removed by Trump after disagreements over vaccine policy. Kaine noted that Democrats had come to respect Monarez for her stance on vaccine policy.
The committee's vote was initially delayed due to attendance issues, with Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski unable to be present. During her confirmation hearing, Schwartz was praised by some senators for her past government service, including her roles as a public health official in the first Trump administration and a top Coast Guard health official. However, some Democrats, including Maggie Hassan of New Hampshire, expressed concerns about her evasiveness when questioned about standing up to Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on public health matters. Bernie Sanders, the committee's ranking member, also voiced doubts about Schwartz's willingness to challenge Kennedy, who has been critical of vaccine policies, and urged Democrats to vote against her.
In a separate development, the committee also voted to advance the nomination of Sean Kaufman, Trump's choice for Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response.
