CDC Nominee Schwartz Won't Say If She'd Stand Up to Kennedy
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- Erica Schwartz, the administration's nominee to run the CDC, appeared before a Senate committee Wednesday for her confirmation hearing.
- Susan Monarez was ousted as CDC director almost a year ago by RFK Jr. over vaccine policy, setting up the current vacancy.
- Senators repeatedly pressed Schwartz on whether she'd face the same fate as Monarez and how she'd handle what many of them characterized as Kennedy's political interference at the agency.
- Schwartz repeatedly demurred on whether she would stand up to the health secretary, never quite giving a direct answer.
Why it matters: Schwartz's refusal to commit to standing up to Kennedy left senators guessing whether she'd have any more independence than Monarez, whose ouster over vaccine policy created the vacancy. The CDC's scientific credibility and its vaccine guidance authority are now in limbo pending her confirmation.
