Health|Trump’s Latest C.D.C. Nominee Vows Not to ‘Betray the Science’

Before her confirmation hearing on Wednesday, Dr. Erica Schwartz, President Trump’s third nominee in less than two years to lead the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, appeared all but certain to be approved by the Senate health committee, a crucial step in her confirmation process.

Dr. Schwartz, a deputy surgeon general in the first Trump administration, has publicly supported childhood vaccines, and has been viewed as a highly qualified, mainstream choice.

Her credentials may yet win her the votes she needs for confirmation, but her hearing was dominated by sharply worded questions about her willingness and ability to push back against Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s policies, including his attempts to rescind recommendations for childhood vaccines.

The committee’s chairman, Senator Bill Cassidy, Republican of Louisiana and a physician, was scathing in his criticisms of Mr. Kennedy’s policies, and made it clear he would not tolerate vaccine skepticism from Dr. Schwartz.

“We need a C.D.C. director that will actually stand up to crazy, stupid things being said that undermine faith in immunization,” he said, adding that it was “evil” to promote misinformation about vaccines.

“Are you that person?” he asked Dr. Schwartz.

Mr. Cassidy’s questions were particularly striking considering he cast the deciding committee vote to confirm Mr. Kennedy as health secretary last year.