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President Donald Trump has picked Erica Schwartz, a former deputy surgeon general and Coast Guard veteran, to be the next CDC director — a likely fortifying pick after a year of near-constant instability for the agency.
Trump said in a Truth Social post Thursday that Schwartz “is a STAR!” Longtime public health professionals agreed, applauding the pick in social media posts. The CDC has been without permanent leadership for almost the entirety of Trump’s second term, during which the childhood vaccine schedule was overhauled, anti-vaccine advocates were given key posts, and the agency headquarters was attacked. With Schwartz as the new pick for director, infectious disease experts and public health professionals finally expressed appreciation.