CDC director says RFK Jr. has final say

Erica Schwartz, in her first public interview since assuming leadership of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, told Atlanta News First that she will voice disagreements with Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. when necessary. Schwartz framed her role as one that allows for professional dissent while recognizing the department’s hierarchy. She said she is prepared to contest the secretary on matters of policy or science but acknowledged that Kennedy retains ultimate decision-making authority. The remarks draw a clear line about how conflicts will be handled between the CDC director and the head of the Department of Health and Human Services. The interview is the director’s initial public conversation since taking charge of the agency. By publicly addressing her working relationship with the secretary, Schwartz offered early signals about how the CDC plans to navigate internal debates and external scrutiny during her tenure. Schwartz’s comments may influence perceptions of the CDC’s independence and operational dynamics within the federal public-health apparatus, especially as observers watch how scientific advice is weighed against policy choices at the department level.