New CDC director tells staff she is prepared to speak ‘truth to power’

In an all-hands meeting, Erica Schwartz confronted concerns about her independence

CDC Director Eric Schwartz is seen here at her confirmation hearing in Washington last month.Finn Gomez/Getty Images

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WASHINGTON — Erica Schwartz, the new director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, told agency staff on Wednesday that she was prepared to disagree with administration leaders and sought to empower others to do the same, according to a recording of the meeting obtained by STAT.

During her first all-hands address on Wednesday, Schwartz identified three priorities: preserving trust through radical transparency and scientific rigor; strengthening the CDC’s ability to respond to disease threats; and building up the agency’s relationship with state and local partners.