WASHINGTON — The Senate health committee approved two Trump administration nominees for key health roles Thursday, including the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and a pandemic preparedness leader, after an earlier vote was delayed.
The vote on Erica Schwartz for CDC director was approved by all Republicans and by Tim Kaine (D-Va.), with other Democrats opposed. Sean Kaufman won support from all Republicans to be assistant secretary for preparedness and response, and all Democrats were opposed.
Schwartz’s confirmation was all but assured after both health committee chair Bill Cassidy (R-La.) and Kaine expressed support. But Kaufman’s fate had been more of a question mark, after Cassidy clashed with him during his confirmation hearing over his past remarks questioning vaccine safety, which were first reported by STAT.
But on Thursday, Cassidy said he would approve Kaufman. “America is facing serious public health challenges,” Cassidy said, naming vaccine preventable diseases and an Ebola outbreak in parts of Africa. He said there’s a need to strengthen the nation’s pandemic preparedness.
Their nominations now move to the full Senate floor, where they are likely to be confirmed.
