President Donald Trump has revealed his pick for the next CDC director, tapping Dr. Erica Schwartz—a seasoned physician with military experience and a proven track record in his administration. And judging by Trump’s announcement, this isn’t just another appointment—it’s a reset.
“Erica graduated from Brown University for College and Medical School, and served a distinguished career as a Doctor of Medicine in the United States Military… and then served as my Deputy Surgeon General during my First Term. She is a STAR!” Trump said, making it clear he’s bringing in someone he trusts.
Schwartz previously served as Deputy Surgeon General from 2019 to 2021, where she helped oversee the nation’s public health response during the COVID-19 pandemic. In other words, she’s not exactly new to high-pressure situations—something the CDC could probably use right now.
But Trump didn’t stop there. He also announced a full team to back her up, including Sean Slovenski as Deputy Director and Chief Operating Officer, Dr. Jennifer Shuford as Deputy Director and Chief Medical Officer, and Dr. Sara Brenner as Senior Counselor for Public Health under Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. A full lineup, not just a single hire—because apparently, rebuilding an agency takes more than one person.
Trump emphasized that these “highly respected” medical professionals bring the experience and credentials needed to restore what he called the “gold standard of science” at the CDC—something he argued was lost under the previous administration’s focus on mandates. Subtle? Not exactly. Clear? Absolutely.
The announcement follows Trump’s earlier decision to remove former CDC Director Susan Monarez in 2025 after she declined to step down. Since then, the agency has been operating under interim leadership, with NIH Director Dr. Jay Bhattacharya temporarily filling the role until his term expired in March.
Now, with Schwartz at the helm, Trump is signaling a shift in direction—one focused on restoring credibility, strengthening public health leadership, and, as he put it, “making America healthy and great again.”
Critics will likely weigh in—as they always do—but the administration is clearly betting that experienced leadership and a renewed focus on science over bureaucracy will resonate with the public.
And if this team delivers as promised, the CDC might just be heading for the kind of turnaround Americans have been waiting for.
