Key facts
- Erica Schwartz, nominated by President Donald Trump to lead the CDC, will resign from UnitedHealth and board roles if confirmed.
- She will divest healthcare-related holdings, including UnitedHealth stock, within 90 days of confirmation.
- Schwartz will recuse herself for two years from matters involving former employers.
- She will also resign from the Searching for Solutions Institute foundation.
- Schwartz will avoid acquiring financial interests in a wide range of industries affected by the Department of Health and Human Services.
Erica Schwartz, President Donald Trump's nominee to head the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, has outlined her plan to divest assets and recuse herself from certain matters if confirmed. In a financial disclosure letter dated June 16, Schwartz informed the HHS Ethics counsel of her intentions.
Schwartz's employment with UnitedHealth Group will conclude upon her confirmation, at which point she will receive a payment equivalent to one year's salary and a bonus. UnitedHealth has also agreed to cash out certain unvested restricted stock units and stock options that were scheduled to vest between August 2026 and August 2027; any remaining unvested awards will be forfeited. Schwartz committed to selling any UnitedHealth stock acquired through vested stock options as soon as feasible, no later than 90 days after confirmation. Following her last payment from UnitedHealth, she will recuse herself for two years from specific matters involving the company.
Furthermore, Schwartz will step down from her board positions at Butterfly Network and Aveanna Healthcare Holdings, divesting her stock in both companies within 90 days. Additional recusal obligations will apply related to accelerated equity awards and compensation from these companies. She also plans to resign from the Searching for Solutions Institute foundation and will refrain from acquiring direct financial interests in a broad spectrum of industries regulated by the Department of Health and Human Services, including pharmaceuticals, medical devices, healthcare, food, insurance, communications, and software.