“Trump also announced his pick of three top health officials: Sean Slovenski, a healthcare industry executive, as the CDC's chief operating officer; Dr. Jennifer Shuford, commissioner of the Texas Department of State Health Services, as the agency's chief medical director; and Dr. Sara Brenner, principal deputy commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration, as senior counselor for public health for Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.”

“The 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 Robert F. Kennedy Jr. over vaccine policy.”

“Jim O’Neill then served as the agency’s acting director for several months. O’Neill signed off on a major overhaul of the childhood vaccination schedule in January that has since been blocked by a federal judge.”

“He was replaced by National Institutes of Health Director Jay Bhattacharya in February, who has since been overseeing the agency in an unusual dual role.”

“Schwartz spent more than 20 years in uniform across the U.S. Navy, Public Health Service Commissioned Corps and the U.S. Coast Guard. She left as deputy surgeon general in 2021.”