Key Republican Senator Says He Will Support Erica Schwartz for C.D.C. Director

Key Points:

• President Trump’s nominee for CDC director, Dr. Erica Schwartz, gained crucial support from Senator Bill Cassidy after revisions were made to the CDC’s vaccine and autism webpage addressing his concerns.
• The updated webpage still suggests a possible link between vaccines and autism, despite no scientific evidence, but now includes a statement clarifying that scientists have not identified autism’s root causes.
• Senator Cassidy, a physician and chairman of the Senate health committee, had questioned Dr. Schwartz’s ability to counteract Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s vaccine skepticism during her confirmation hearing.
• Cassidy’s endorsement came after the Department of Health and Human Services modified the CDC webpage, which he called a “start” toward repairing public health messaging.
• The Senate health committee delayed the vote on Dr. Schwartz’s nomination until next week due to the absence of Senator Lisa Murkowski, who was attending to a family emergency.