Policy Snapshot
April 20, 2026
Erica Schwartz, MD, JD, MPH, has been nominated to serve as the next director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), pending Senate confirmation.
Schwartz is a physician and former deputy U.S. surgeon general, as well as a retired rear admiral with experience in the U.S. Navy, Coast Guard, and Public Health Service. She holds advanced degrees in medicine, law, and public health, and has served in federal health leadership roles, including during the COVID-19 pandemic.
If confirmed, Dr. Schwartz would take over an agency currently struggling with vacancies and operational challenges.