Dr. Erica Schwartz confirmed as CDC director, filling a leadership vacuum

Schwartz takes command of a public health agency that has lost thousands of employees, amid layoffs, resignations and leadership turmoil.

<img src='https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/5061x3587+0+0/resize/5061x3587!/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F94%2F79%2F039d749d4a7eb1f8ad935afe23ad%2Fgettyimages-2286228683.jpg' alt='Dr. Erica Schwartz, who appeared before the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee in July, was confirmed Wednesday as CDC director.'/><p>Schwartz takes command of a public health agency that has lost thousands of employees, amid layoffs, resignations and leadership turmoil.</p><p>(Image credit: Finn Gomez)</p><img src='https://media.npr.org/include/images/tracking/npr-rss-pixel.png?story=nx-s1-5920379' />