Senate panel approves CDC nominee, controversial HHS pick

The Senate health committee approved Erica Schwartz as the Centers for Disease Control director and Sean Kaufman as assistant secretary for preparedness and response. Kaufman's nomination faced scrutiny due to past anti-vaccine statements. These votes indicate that Republicans remain willing to accept administration assurances regarding nominees, even as committee chair Bill Cassidy expresses unease with the policies of Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. The approvals aim to refill the Trump administration's health care leadership ranks.