The physician and former deputy surgeon general had faced questions over whether she would stand up to RFK Jr. on his vaccine agenda.
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The Senate health committee on Thursday voted 13-10 to advance the nomination of Erica Schwartz, President Donald Trump’s pick to run the Centers for Disease Central and Prevention.
Schwartz’s nomination, which was supported by committee Republicans and one Democrat, Sen. Tim Kaine (Virginia), now heads to the Senate floor.
Schwartz, a physician, was a deputy U.S. surgeon general during Trump’s first term and has received support from public health groups. She largely sidestepped questions from the committee earlier this month, including from its chairman, Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-Louisiana), over whether she would stand up to Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. if he sought to override scientific recommendations on vaccines.
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The Washington Post in April first reported that Schwartz was Trump’s latest CDC pick. The White House last year withdrew its first choice, former congressman Dave Weldon (R-Florida). The second, Susan Monarez, was confirmed by the Senate but swiftly fired after clashing with Kennedy over his vaccine agenda.
The committee also narrowly advanced Sean Kaufman, Trump’s nominee to lead the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response, in a 12-11 party line vote amid questions about his past anti-vaccine statements. ASPR oversees the nation’s preparedness for pandemics, bioterrorism and other public health emergencies.
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