Trump Nominates Erica Schwartz as CDC Director President Donald Trump on Thursday nominated Erica Schwartz to serve as director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, marking the culmination of a months-long effort to appoint a permanent leader to the agency amid ongoing leadership instability. The nomination follows a period of significant turmoil at the CDC, which has experienced multiple leadership changes and internal challenges under the oversight of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Schwartz’s nomination requires Senate confirmation, a process that will determine her ability to assume the role. The CDC has been operating under an acting director since Dr. Jay Bhattacharya’s tenure ended last month, as federal law—the Vacancies Act—prohibits acting officials from serving beyond 210 days without Senate approval. This legal constraint became critical in late August when the 210-day limit expired, prompting the need for a new nominee. The agency’s leadership upheaval has been compounded by the abrupt dismissal of its previous director, Dr. Susan Monarez, who was fired in August 2025. Monarez, the only confirmed CDC director during Trump’s second term, held the position for less than a month before being removed. In congressional testimony earlier that year, she stated she was terminated after refusing to endorse vaccine recommendations she deemed scientifically unsound. Her firing occurred amid heightened tensions between the agency and Kennedy Jr., who has been a vocal critic of public health policies, including vaccine mandates. The CDC’s instability has also been exacerbated by a series of events that have shaken its workforce and public confidence.#president_donald_trump #robert_f_kennedy_jr #centers_for_disease_control_and_prevention #kaiser_family_foundation #erica_schwartz
Missouri, Kansas face Medicaid cuts affecting thousands Missouri and Kansas are preparing for significant Medicaid budget adjustments as new federal rules threaten to reduce coverage for hundreds of thousands of residents. The changes, set to take effect in 2027, include stricter work requirements and more frequent eligibility checks, which are expected to lead to a nationwide loss of Medicaid coverage for approximately 5.3 million people, according to estimates from the Kaiser Family Foundation. The federal policy shift is already placing financial strain on state budgets. Over the next decade, Medicaid budgets across the U.S. are projected to shrink by $664 billion due to cuts mandated by last year’s Republican-led budget law. This reduction comes amid rising medical costs and slower-than-expected tax collections, which have forced state lawmakers to confront difficult decisions about how to manage Medicaid spending. Medicaid typically accounts for about 30% of a state’s budget, creating pressure to either cut expenses or find new revenue sources. In Missouri, the impact is expected to be substantial. According to an analysis by the Missouri Budget Project, around 170,000 residents could lose Medicaid coverage after the new rules take effect. In Kansas, the number is smaller but still significant, with approximately 13,000 people projected to be affected, based on research from the REACH Healthcare Foundation. State lawmakers have already taken steps to address these challenges. In February, Missouri legislators approved $76.7 million in general revenue to fund Medicaid expansion, marking the first time state funds have been used to support the voter-approved program.#kansas #missouri #kaiser_family_foundation #missouri_budget_project #reach_healthcare_foundation
