A Senate committee vote, meaning a panel decision that sends nominees to the full chamber for final confirmation, moved two of President Trump's public health choices forward on Thursday. Erica Schwartz, nominated to lead the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, cleared the Senate health committee. So did Sean Kaufman, nominated as assistant secretary for preparedness and response, the office that manages the federal government's pandemic readiness work.
How the votes broke
The two nominees drew different levels of cross-party support. Schwartz received votes from every Republican on the committee and from one Democrat, Senator Tim Kaine of Virginia. All other Democrats voted against her. Kaufman's vote was strictly partisan. Every Republican backed him and every Democrat opposed him. The committee had postponed an earlier vote on both nominees before Thursday's session produced the approvals.
What the two roles involve
The CDC director leads the federal agency responsible for tracking disease outbreaks and issuing public health guidance across the United States. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is the government's primary institution for infectious disease surveillance. The assistant secretary for preparedness and response holds a separate post. That title is the federal government's formal name for the official who coordinates planning when a pandemic or other large-scale health emergency develops.
What a committee approval does
A Senate committee vote does not install a nominee. It advances the name to the full Senate, where all senators vote separately and a majority decides. Schwartz and Kaufman now enter that stage. Schwartz drew one Democratic vote in committee; Kaufman drew none.