Photo: CQ-Roll Call, Inc.
The White House has withdrawn the nomination of Dr. David Weldon as the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The decision came just hours before Weldon's scheduled Senate confirmation hearing on Thursday (March 13). President Donald Trump had nominated Weldon, a former Florida congressman, for the position.
Weldon's nomination faced significant scrutiny due to his controversial views on vaccines. During his time in Congress, Weldon repeatedly questioned the safety of vaccines and proposed legislation to shift vaccine safety oversight from the CDC to an independent agency. His views have drawn criticism from health experts and lawmakers alike, including U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who also has a history of questioning vaccines. According to CNN, Weldon rebutted criticisms by suggesting that some members of Congress might be influenced by pharmaceutical interests.
The White House reportedly withdrew the nomination after determining that Weldon lacked sufficient support to secure confirmation from the full Senate, despite having enough votes to pass the committee stage. Politico reported that Weldon's nomination was seen as a "dead man walking situation" due to the growing scrutiny over his anti-vaccine stance.