CDC Director Erica Schwartz Backs Broader Abortion Data Collection After 1-Year Leadership Gap
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · Aug 8
CDC Director Erica Schwartz Backs Broader Abortion Data Collection After 1-Year Leadership Gap
2 articles · Updated · The Guardian · Aug 8
Summary
Erica Schwartz won Senate confirmation on Wednesday as CDC director and told Senator Josh Hawley she would support stronger abortion surveillance, calling it a “critical component” of the agency’s work.
At her July confirmation hearing, Schwartz pledged to improve abortion reporting from states and to separate what she called “true abortions” from emergency-service cases so the data is “accurate.”
The commitment comes as the CDC regains a permanent leader for the first time in nearly a year; predecessor Susan Monarez lasted 29 days before being ousted after clashes over vaccine policy.
Reproductive-rights advocates warned expanded surveillance could be used to gather more intrusive patient data and aid investigations or criminalization of patients and providers.
Schwartz’s stance adds to broader signs of a tougher federal abortion agenda, with acting Attorney General Todd Blanche also saying the administration aims for a permanent rollback of Biden-era abortion protections.