CDC Director’s Relationship with Health Secretary and Measles Controversy

In her initial interview since assuming leadership at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Director Erica Schwartz shared her stance on her working relationship with Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. She expressed her willingness to voice disagreements, but emphasized these would remain private. Schwartz, drawing from her background in uniformed services, explained the concept of ‘but sir, but ma’am,’ an approach where one can respectfully disagree with superiors.

Schwartz noted, “Secretary Kennedy and I have worked together for five weeks now, and I can tell you there have been a few ‘but sirs’ behind closed doors.” Despite her differences with Kennedy, she acknowledged his authority, stating, “At the end of the day, he’s the Secretary of HHS and he’s going to make the decisions.”

These remarks contrast sharply with the previous CDC director, Susan Monarez, who opposed Kennedy’s vaccine policy and was subsequently dismissed after a brief tenure. Schwartz, having served as deputy surgeon general and a prominent Coast Guard health official, has a history of supporting childhood vaccines, suggesting she was chosen to restore stability at the CDC.

Nonetheless, both Democrats and Republican Senator Bill Cassidy voiced skepticism regarding Schwartz’s ability to challenge Kennedy’s directives effectively and uphold scientific integrity amidst pressing health issues.

Measles Controversy

Schwartz faced scrutiny during a significant measles outbreak for excluding four measles-related deaths in Pennsylvania from the official CDC counts. This decision came after Kennedy labeled the reports as fabricated, amid disputes between him and Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro.

When questioned about the measles deaths, Kennedy referred to them as “alleged.” Schwartz attributed the situation to technical differences, explaining that the CDC lacks a uniform definition for measles-related deaths. She likened it to previous debates over COVID-19 death classifications, stating, “If someone got hit by a bus, and they happened to have COVID, often that was called a COVID-related death.”

However, Pennsylvania authorities adhere to a definition that discounts unrelated fatalities, such as those from accidents, from being classified as measles-related deaths.