New CDC chief pledges science-led leadership as abortion-surveillance debate looms

Erica Schwartz was confirmed as CDC director, the first Black woman to hold the post, and she frames her tenure as science-driven while navigating vaccine-policy questions from RFK Jr. During confirmation she affirmed that abortion surveillance is a 'critical component' of the CDC’s work, prompting concerns from abortion-rights advocates who warn such data collection could be used to restrict care amid a broader politicization of public health and ongoing fights over abortion access.