New CDC Director Promises Advocacy Amid Challenges

Dr. Erica Schwartz, the new director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), pledged to support and advocate for the agency in her first major staff meeting. She acknowledged challenges such as underfunded programs and staff burnout, assuring employees she would not hesitate to voice disagreements with U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., though not publicly.

Schwartz recently assumed leadership at the Atlanta-based federal agency after a series of interim directors, addressing employees in an ‘all hands’ meeting. She referenced an Associated Press report about CDC programs that, despite congressional funding, have become inactive due to layoffs by the previous administration of President Donald Trump or staff on leave. While specifics were not provided, she committed to engaging with CDC staff for insights on mitigating these issues.

‘The good news is, I’m here,’ Schwartz stated. ‘I’m in my first week, and I can begin advocating for the CDC. Without strong leadership, advocacy becomes a challenge.’

With a background in the U.S. Coast Guard and Public Health Service, Schwartz emphasized conducting disagreements privately as part of her service ethos. She promised to enhance public trust through transparency, scientific rigor, and honest communication, aligning with Kennedy’s principles. Schwartz is the 22nd person to lead the CDC, charged with safeguarding Americans from preventable health risks.

The agency faces significant challenges, with over 3,000 employees lost, primarily to layoffs and resignations, impacting morale as temporary leaders came and went. Political appointees with minimal medical or public health expertise staffed the front office. Secretary Kennedy, known for his anti-vaccine stance, made decisions opposing CDC guidance, dissolving an expert advisory group and forming a new panel with vaccine skeptics.

During the meeting, staff inquired about Trump’s executive order suggesting revised childhood vaccine recommendations favoring a spaced-out schedule. Schwartz mentioned a new task force on childhood vaccine safety she is part of, which has yet to convene. The panel has 90 days to deliver a report to Trump.

Feedback from current and former CDC workers portrayed Schwartz as sincere, though actions remain awaited. The National Public Health Coalition, representing past and present CDC staff, issued a statement post-meeting.

CDC staff and the American public deserve a robust, independent leader committed to science, protecting public health expertise, and prioritizing public safety over political pressures. the statement affirmed. Dr. Schwartz has spoken about rebuilding trust. That trust must be earned through action.

Support for the Associated Press Health and Science Department is provided by the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Department of Science Education and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, although the AP maintains responsibility for all published content.