E&C Democratic Leaders Demand Answers from CDC Director Schwartz After Misleading Public on Recent Measles Deaths

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Energy and Commerce Committee Democratic leaders wrote to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Director Erica Schwartz demanding answers regarding the recent suppression of routine reporting of two measles-related deaths in Pennsylvania. Over the weekend, a 40-year-old woman died in Pennsylvania from “complications associated with the measles,” marking the third measles-related death in that state.  

Full Committee Ranking Member Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), Health Subcommittee Ranking Member Diana DeGette (D-CO), and Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee Ranking Member Yvette D. Clarke (D-NY) demanded a briefing on the CDC Director’s concerning attempt to conceal public health data from Americans. 

“Your decision to interfere with the inclusion of the two latest measles-related deaths on CDC’s publicly facing database is consistent with the many other ways that the Trump Administration has degraded tools to prevent disease spread, damaged the partnership between the states and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), and suppressed information about threats and harm to the public,” the three Democratic Committee leaders wrote to Director Schwartz. “The Trump Administration has abdicated its responsibility to protect Americans’ health, and your continued interference with this data would make you a willing participant."

On August 25, 2026, the state of Pennsylvania announced its first two measles-related deaths in 35 years, including a newborn who died of a ruptured spleen, which experts have stated is a potential consequence of measles-related complications. CDC first acknowledged these deaths on August 25, expressing its “condolences to the families and communities affected by two measles-associated deaths.” However, the next day, Secretary Kennedy claimed that the two reported deaths were “fabricated.”

On August 28, CDC delayed its routine publication of national measles-related deaths on its public database, and at that time, the public database stated that there were zero measles deaths in 2026. Then for a brief period on August 30, the database’s measles death count accurately increased to two before it was quickly changed to an asterisk with a corresponding statement that CDC was "review[ing] additional information.” On September 4, CDC removed its prior reference to the two deaths altogether, seemingly narrowing its reporting criteria to instances where measles is listed as the “underlying cause” on available death records. The three Committee leaders wrote this was a cynical wordsmithing choice that skirts Schwartz’s obligation to transparently report public health risks to the American people.

The three Democratic Committee leaders voiced concern that even though the state’s Department of Health provided CDC with the relevant epidemiological data and evaluated the deaths under CDC’s criteria, the federal agency has proceeded to second-guess the state’s judgment.

“Your decision to depart from CDC’s routine reporting practices and reject the sound determinations of state public health officials publicly minimizes the magnitude of this deadly outbreak, sacrificing science and transparency in service of the Secretary’s unsupported anti-vaccine ideology,” wrote the Ranking Members. “In less than one month since your confirmation by the Senate, your assurances that you will ‘follow the science, wherever it leads” are falling flat.”

Read the full letter HERE.

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