Dr. Erica Schwartz, nominated by President Donald Trump to direct the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), defended this Wednesday before the Senate the decision to withdraw the United States from the World Health Organization (WHO), while ensuring that, if confirmed, it will never compromise the scientific integrity of the country's main public health agency.

During his confirmation hearing before the Senate Health Committee, Schwartz endorsed the “America First” policy promoted by the Trump administration and stated that leaving the WHO represents a better strategy to protect the resources of American taxpayers.

Although he acknowledged that the international organization plays an important role in global health, he maintained that it had become an overly bureaucratic structure and that the CDC assumed much of the technical responsibilities during health emergencies.

The nominee thus responded to questions from Democratic legislators, who expressed concern about the consequences that the departure of the United States could have for international cooperation in the face of future pandemics and other public health threats. Schwartz, 54, who has a 24-year career in the Public Health Service and degrees in medicine from Brown and law from Maryland, aspires to stabilize an agency mired in uncertainty

Senators question the independence of the CDC

Much of the hearing was marked by questions about the autonomy of the CDC from the Secretary of Health, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has promoted changes in federal vaccination policies since the beginning of the current administration.

Schwartz affirmed that he will never “betray science” and promised to promote a transparency policy to regain public trust in the institution. However, he avoided directly answering whether he would oppose instructions from the Secretary of Health that contradicted the agency's scientific recommendations.

The senators also asked him about various decisions made in recent months, including modifications to vaccination campaigns, changes in information published by the CDC and the reduction of some public health programs. On several occasions he responded that he did not know details of these measures or preferred not to comment on hypothetical scenarios.

The hearing comes as the CDC faces one of the most complex periods in its recent history. Since Trump's return to the White House, the agency has recorded thousands of sick leave between layoffs and resignations, in addition to constant turnover in its main management positions.

Disease outbreaks increase pressure on agency

Schwartz's confirmation process coincides with significant health challenges for the United States. The CDC is currently monitoring an increase in cases of cyclosporiasis, an intestinal infection caused by the Cyclospora parasite, as well as a sharp rebound in measles that exceeds 2,200 confirmed cases during 2026.

A veteran military physician, Schwartz has more than two decades of experience in the United States Public Health Service and held leadership positions in the Coast Guard, where she oversaw clinics, medical programs and vaccination policies for military personnel.

He currently works for UnitedHealth Group, a position he would resign, along with other positions on the boards of directors of companies in the health sector, if the Senate confirms his appointment.

During the same hearing, Sean Kaufman, nominated to head the Undersecretariat for Preparedness and Response to Health Emergencies, also appeared, who answered questions about past publications related to mRNA vaccines and about the government's strategy to confront future pandemics.

If Schwartz wins Senate approval, he will assume leadership of the CDC at a time of intense political polarization, growing epidemiological challenges, and national debate over the role of science in public policymaking.