Erica Schwartz Faces Senate Confirmation

Erica Schwartz took the stand on Wednesday for her confirmation hearing before the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee. She is the nominee to lead the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

During the hearing, she was questioned about her stance on the Trump administration’s decision to cancel mRNA vaccine research. Schwartz responded, “This is the first time I’m actually hearing about this. As a private citizen, I certainly was not following that.”

Her response led to concerns about her ability to serve as an effective check on Robert F. Kennedy Jr., reflecting skepticism about her potential leadership at the CDC.