Reading · Jefferey Jaxen on Substack

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) director position has lacked a permanent, Senate-confirmed leader for nearly a year.

Wednesday Dr. Erica Schwartz, President Trump’s ‘star’ nominee to serve as the next director of the CDC was finally confirmed.

If any agency symbolically represented the lack of public trust accrued because of government fraud, mismanagement and crimes during the pandemic response it is concentrated upon the CDC.

Dr. Schwartz’s first and only directive in the new position is to rebuild trust. A near-impossible task against the backdrop of Fauci’s recent contempt of Congress vote and possible DOJ referral by the Vice President.

How will Dr. Schwartz rebuild that trust? Fortunately she already committed to that step during her initial confirmation hearing

She was asked in the course of questioning the following by Democratic Maryland U.S. Senator Angela Alsobrooks the following:

“Aaron Siri called you the queen of mandating vaccines during your time at the Coast Guard. So what is your response to Aaron Siri and other anti-vaccine advocates criticizing you for supporting vaccine mandates?”

Dr. Schwartz replied:

“I would love to have a conversation with Aaron Siri. I would love to understand his concerns about vaccines. I would love to have an open and transparent debate.”

Upon committee confirmation of Dr. Schwartz, Siri took to X with the debate reminder: