President Donald Trump moved to solidify his health leadership team on Thursday, announcing the nomination of Dr. Erica Schwartz to serve as the next director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The selection, shared via Truth Social, looks to fill a leadership gap at the agency following the expiration of acting director Dr. Jay Bhattacharya’s term last month.
Schwartz is no stranger to the federal health apparatus. A graduate of Brown University for both her undergraduate and medical degrees, she previously served as the Deputy Surgeon General during Trump’s first term.
In that role, which she held from January 2019 to April 2021, she was tasked with overseeing the deployment of public health resources during the COVID-19 pandemic. Trump described her as an “incredibly talented” individual and a “STAR” who brings experience from a career in the United States military.
READ: SEC Power Grab Block? Florida Rep. Byron Donalds Moves To Shield Traders From Fed Overreach
The announcement included a slate of other high-level appointments aimed at restructuring the agency’s operations. Sean Slovenski has been named CDC Deputy Director and Chief Operating Officer, while Dr. Jennifer Shuford will take on the role of Chief Medical Officer.
Additionally, Dr. Sara Brenner was appointed as Senior Counselor for Public Health to Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.
In his statement, the president framed the new appointments as a necessary pivot from the previous administration’s policies.
He claimed these “Highly Respected Doctors of Medicine” have the credentials “to restore the GOLD STANDARD OF SCIENCE at the CDC,” which he characterized as a “disaster focused on ‘mandates’ under Sleepy Joe.” He added that the team “will do a TREMENDOUS job leading the CDC as we continue to MAKE AMERICA HEALTHY AND GREAT AGAIN!”
READ: Massachusetts School District Under Fed Watch After Settlement Over Antisemitic Harassment
The nomination follows a period of transition at the CDC. In August 2025, Trump ousted former director Susan Monarez after a public refusal to resign. While Dr. Bhattacharya had been filling the role in an acting capacity, federal law mandated the end of his temporary term in March, according to reporting by CNBC.
The leadership team will now face a confirmation process as the administration seeks to implement its broader public health agenda.
Please make a small donation to the Tampa Free Press to help sustain independent journalism. Your contribution enables us to continue delivering high-quality, local, and national news coverage.
Sign up: Subscribe to our free newsletter for a curated selection of top stories delivered straight to your inbox
