The first Black woman to lead the CDC will face an uphill battle in restoring trust

By: Rodriguez, The 19th

Outlets: Minnesota Reformer

Published: August 6, 2026

Words: 1,598

Last Updated: 1 week, 5 days ago

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This story was originally reported by The 19th.

Dr. Erica Schwartz will be the first Black woman to lead the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, promising that she will show “radical transparency and unwavering scientific integrity” in the role. But she faces political headwinds and practical challenges as she starts the job.

Schwartz, who was confirmed Wednesday by the Senate to run the federal agency that primarily responds to infectious …

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