Former deputy surgeon general is recommended for CDC director, sources say

Health newsFormer deputy surgeon general is recommended for CDC director, sources sayThe agency has had a tumultuous run during Trump's second term and only had a permanent director for one month last summer.Listen to this article with a free account00:0000:00The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention headquarters stands in Atlanta in 2020.Elijah Nouvelage / Bloomberg via Getty Images fileShareAdd NBC News to GoogleApril 15, 2026, 12:16 PM EDTBy Berkeley Lovelace Jr. and Erika EdwardsThe Department of Health and Human Services has recommended Dr. Erica Schwartz, a deputy U.S. surgeon general during President Donald Trump’s first term, to lead the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, according to two people familiar with the matter.Subscribe to read this story ad-free Get unlimited access to ad-free articles and exclusive content.The CDC director pick is not final and still needs Trump’s approval before moving forward, the people said, speaking on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly.It’s unclear if Trump will ultimately move forward with Schwartz or select another candidate.The Washington Post was the first to report on Schwartz’s possible nomination.A spokesperson for HHS did not respond to a request for comment. In an emailed statement, White House spokesperson Kush Desai said, “Any reporting about personnel decisions, unless officially announced by the White House, should be considered baseless speculation.” Dr. Erica Schwartz.Department of Health and Human ServicesThe CDC has been without a permanent director since August.The Trump administration’s first pick, former Rep. Dave Weldon of Florida, was pulled in March 2025 after Republican senators signaled he wouldn’t be confirmed. Officials then turned to Susan Monarez, a career scientist who had already been serving as acting director. She led the agency for just one month last summer before she was dismissed in August after clashing with Health Secretary...