President Donald Trump has nominated Dr. Erica Schwartz to serve as director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, announcing the decision through a Truth Social post that highlighted her medical, military, and legal background.

Schwartz, a physician and former U.S. military officer, previously served in senior health roles during Trump’s first administration, including deputy surgeon general. Trump described her as a “proven leader,” citing her combination of clinical training, public health expertise, and legal education.

According to the announcement, Schwartz is a graduate of Brown University’s undergraduate and medical programs and has additional training in public health and law. Her career has included both government service and medical practice, with experience tied to federal health systems and veterans’ health initiatives.

Alongside Schwartz’s nomination, Trump also unveiled additional leadership selections for the CDC, naming 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 to Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. United States Department of Health and Human Services

The personnel changes come as Trump advances a broader effort to overhaul federal health agencies, which administration allies argue require restructuring following the COVID-19 pandemic and what they describe as inconsistent public guidance and bureaucratic expansion.

Supporters of the move say Schwartz’s background in both military service and public health administration positions her to restore operational focus at the CDC and improve trust in the agency’s mission. Critics of prior public health leadership have raised concerns about transparency and shifting federal guidance during the pandemic, issues expected to factor into Senate review.

If confirmed, Schwartz would assume leadership of the nation’s primary public health agency, overseeing infectious disease response, health surveillance, and emergency preparedness at a time of continued debate over the future direction of federal health pol