The Senate on Wednesday confirmed Dr. Erica Schwartz as director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, making her the 22nd leader of the Atlanta-based public health agency.

Background and Confirmation

Schwartz, 54, was confirmed in a 51-44 vote and is the agency’s first confirmed director in nearly a year. Her resume includes medical and law degrees, a stint as deputy surgeon general, and a leadership position at the U.S. Coast Guard.

Schwartz’s nomination appeared to be on shaky ground after a hearing before the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee last month. The chairman, Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., and others questioned whether she would be willing to stand up to Republican President Donald Trump’s health secretary, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., if he ordered the CDC to do something unsupported by science and good public health practice.

But weeks later, Cassidy said he had spoken with Schwartz after that hearing and with others who knew her, and said he had gained confidence in her.

CDC Turmoil

The CDC has been in turmoil since Trump returned to office last year. Largely due to layoffs and resignations, the agency has lost 3,000-plus employees, more than one-quarter of its workforce.

When Schwartz was nominated in April, public health experts were cautiously optimistic, citing her background. They also noted Schwartz was the choice of Trump and not Kennedy, who is a leading voice in the anti-vaccine movement before he was tapped to oversee the CDC and other federal health agencies.

Original reporting: WPBF (Treasure Coast / Hearst) — read the source article.