A Senate committee advanced Dr. Erica Schwartz’s nomination to lead the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), despite concerns about her willingness to resist potential political pressure. Committee chairman Sen. Bill Cassidy expressed initial doubts but later endorsed Schwartz after further discussions, saying he believed she would defend scientific integrity. The CDC has seen over 3,000 employees, more than a quarter of its workforce, leave since Trump returned to office. Schwartz pledged at her hearing to “never betray the science,” though some senators and public health groups found her responses vague regarding defending CDC independence from political direction. State of play: Schwartz is the third person nominated by Trump for CDC director in 18 months, amid a string of acting directors and dismissals for not aligning with administration policies.