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Rules Committee advances Dr. Erica Pan for state public health officer as senators press on pandemic lessons, federal funding and messaging
Summary
The committee voted to send Dr. Erica Pan’s confirmation to the full Senate after questions about federal funding levels, vaccine programs and how the Department of Public Health will improve communications and support for local health jurisdictions.
The Senate Rules Committee on Wednesday advanced Dr. Erica Pan’s nomination to continue as California’s state public health officer and director of the California Department of Public Health, moving the nomination to the full Senate after questions from members about pandemic‑era decisions, looming federal funding cuts and how the department will rebuild public trust.
Dr. Erica Pan, who has served as state epidemiologist and deputy director for the center for infectious diseases, defended the state’s use of pandemic tools and emphasized two priorities if confirmed: improving public health communication and making data actionable.
"I consider all Californians as my patient," Pan told the committee. She also summarized the department’s vaccine response and recovery work, saying the state’s vaccine effort through October 2021 was estimated to have prevented more than 72,000 hospitalizations and saved over 19,000 lives.
Senators pressed Pan on how the department will respond to prospective federal funding cuts and to program changes that would affect access to care. Pan said roughly 45% of CDPH’s budget is federal and that the department passes a large share of federal funding through to local partners; she told the committee officials were closely monitoring supplemental grant threats and that a recent injunction blocked termination of certain supplemental vaccination grants.
Committee members also sought concrete steps to rebuild public trust and to improve communications. Pan described plans to identify and coordinate a network of trusted local messengers, to increase two‑way listening to hear how messages land in communities, and to leverage regional public‑health offices and local health partners to tailor outreach.
Senators raised pandemic lessons, including the need to involve more stakeholders earlier in decisions affecting schools and businesses and to explain the rationale for interventions. Pan said the pandemic exposed how science can evolve and that policies must balance benefits and harms while explaining trade‑offs to affected communities.
Action: Senator Laird moved that the committee approve Pan’s appointment and forward it to the full Senate. The committee recorded a 3–0 vote to advance the nomination.
Next steps: Pan’s nomination will be considered on the full Senate floor.
