STATEMENT: Senator Blunt Rochester Opposes Trump CDC Nominee

U.S. Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.) today released the following statement announcing her opposition to President Trump's most recent nominee to lead the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Dr. Erica Schwartz.

"While qualified on paper, Dr. Schwartz did not convince me that she would prioritize science and the health of Americans over the erratic whims of Secretary Kennedy and the Trump Administration.

"This appointment could not come at a more important time. We are in the middle of the largest Measles spread in decades - including two cases in Delaware. Dangerous parasites are contaminating our food. Parents are unsure about what vaccines their children need, and flu shots are no longer mandatory for all our troops, reversing a policy that's been in place since WWII meant to secure our military readiness. We are over 500 days into the Trump administration, and we've had a confirmed CDC director for a total of 29 days. We must get this right.

"The CDC director must be committed to using evidence-based public health guidance to rebuild public trust. While I respect Dr. Schwartz' achievements, I have very little confidence in her ability to keep the job while maintaining independence from the pressures of this administration. For these reasons, I will not support her nomination."