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3h ago

Senate HELP Panel Advances Trump’s CDC and HHS Preparedness Picks

The committee moved the nominations after HHS assurances that would limit Kaufman’s role on vaccine policy, leaving final confirmation to the full Senate after the August recess.

Erica Schwartz testifies during a Senate Health Education Labor and Pensions committee confirmation hearing to be the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Capitol Hill, Wednesday, July 15, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mariam Zuhaib)
Erica Schwartz testifies during a Senate Health Education Labor and Pensions committee confirmation hearing to be the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Capitol Hill, Wednesday, July 15, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mariam Zuhaib)
Erica Schwartz, President Donald Trump's nominee to lead the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention testifies before a Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee confirmation hearing, on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., U.S., July 15, 2026. REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein
Erica Schwartz attends her nomination hearing to become Director Of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention with the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee on Capitol Hill July 15, 2026 in Washington, DC.

Overview

  • The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee voted Thursday to advance Dr. Erica Schwartz to lead the CDC by 13-10 and Sean G. Kaufman to lead ASPR by 12-11.
  • Chair Bill Cassidy said private talks with HHS and the nominees addressed his concerns and secured his votes, including a pledge that Kaufman would not handle vaccine policy decisions.
  • Kaufman faced sharp questioning over past statements that questioned vaccine safety and suggested links to autism, and HHS/CDC recently revised language on a CDC webpage about vaccines and autism.
  • The nominations come as the CDC has lacked a permanent director for nearly a year, lost more than 3,000 staff, and is managing domestic outbreaks and international threats like Ebola in eastern Congo.
  • A full Senate vote is required for confirmation but is not expected before the August recess, leaving leadership of key public health agencies unresolved and watchers focused on whether HHS keeps its commitments.