WASHINGTON — Committee Chair Sen. Bill Cassidy stated that a family emergency affecting Senator Lisa Murkowski and at least one other absent lawmaker reduced the number of Republicans present to vote. The Senate HELP Committee has a one-seat Republican majority, requiring nominees to secure narrow margins for confirmation, according to analysis by health policy experts.

The committee plans to vote on Dr. Erica Schwartz's nomination next week. The assistant secretary for preparedness and response oversees readiness for public health emergencies and disasters. The vote on Sean Kaufman's nomination is scheduled for July 30.

He said he delayed the vote on Sean Kaufman because he had not counted how much support Kaufman had. When asked what the path forward for Sean Kaufman's nomination might look like, he responded 'TBD'. A committee spokesperson stated there are ongoing conversations with the administration on the path forward for Sean Kaufman’s nomination.

He said on Thursday that he had decided Dr. Schwartz can resist political pressure. He also addressed concerns about misinformation during the proceedings. Why would you repeat those lies? Because that destroys trust, he said, using profane language in his remark.

Dr. Schwartz is 54 years old. If confirmed, Dr. Schwartz would become the 22nd director of the CDC. The CDC is based in Atlanta.

Dr. Schwartz served as deputy surgeon general during the first Trump administration. President Donald Trump returned to office in 2025.

Erica G. Schwartz is a retired rear admiral in the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps. Dr. Schwartz served as a rear admiral in the U.S. Coast Guard, overseeing 41 clinics and 150 sick bays while promoting vaccination policies for service members. During her service with the U.S. Coast Guard, Schwartz became its principal expert on flu pandemics.

Dr. Schwartz spoke about scaling up drive-through Covid-19 testing during the pandemic at her confirmation hearing. Dr. Schwartz discussed her experience in health roles in the U.S. military at her confirmation hearing. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is the U.S. Health Secretary.

Sean Kaufman is the nominee for assistant secretary for preparedness and response. Sean Kaufman previously served as a CDC adviser. Sean Kaufman co-founded Safer Behaviors, a health care consulting firm focused on biosecurity. Sean Kaufman previously stated he would 'rather perish than have any one of his children receive' a COVID-19 vaccine and promoted anti-vaccine claims including the debunked link between vaccines and autism, as reported by Stat News.

The Senate HELP Committee is formally known as the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. It is responsible for overseeing health policy, public health initiatives, and nominations to key health agencies. The committee has 22 members, evenly split between Republicans and Democrats, though party control shifts based on the vice president’s tie-breaking vote.

Dr. Schwartz’s nomination has drawn bipartisan support, with several Democratic members acknowledging her operational experience during public health crises. Republican members have highlighted her military background and leadership during the pandemic.

Kaufman’s past public statements have drawn scrutiny from public health advocates and Democratic lawmakers. During a 2022 podcast appearance, he questioned the safety of mRNA vaccines and repeated discredited claims about vaccine mandates eroding civil liberties.

The Biden administration initially nominated Kaufman in early 2025. His nomination was referred to the HELP Committee in March. Since then, committee staff have conducted multiple background reviews, including interviews with former colleagues and public health officials.

Committee aides confirmed that no formal vote on Kaufman will occur before July 30, pending further consultation with the White House and key senators. The delay does not indicate a withdrawal of support but reflects procedural caution given the narrow partisan balance.

Dr. Schwartz’s confirmation, if successful, would mark the first time a career public health officer with active-duty military medical command experience leads the CDC. She has pledged to prioritize transparency and scientific integrity in agency communications.