The United States Senate has confirmed Dr Erica Schwartz as the new head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), as the federal health agency struggles with low morale and mass resignations since President Donald Trump’s return to office. The Senate confirmed Schwartz in a 51-44 vote on Wednesday, making the 54-year-old the agency’s first confirmed director since the Trump administration fired Susan Monarez last year over disputes regarding vaccine policy. AdvertisementSchwartz was Trump’s third nominee for the position in just 18 months, and public health experts have expressed cautious optimism that she would bring a qualified background to the troubled agency. “Now, Dr Schwartz needs to prove that her leadership will serve science and not the whims of politicians. CDC needs a Director who will protect public health workers, defend evidence-based guidance, and refuse any directive that would undermine public safety,” the National Public Health Coalition, an organisation of former and current CDC workers, said in a statement on Wednesday.