The White House has withdrawn the nomination of Dr. Dave Weldon, a former Florida congressman, to lead the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
As The Wall Street Journal reports, the decision came moments before Weldon’s scheduled confirmation hearing, which was subsequently canceled:
A Republican familiar with the nomination said Dr. Dave Weldon didn’t have the votes in the Senate to be confirmed.
Weldon was on his way to the Capitol on Thursday morning for his confirmation hearing with the Senate’s health committee. He hadn’t heard that his nomination would be withdrawn when a Wall Street Journal reporter reached him at 9:01 a.m. About 15 minutes later a Senate staffer told people waiting outside the hearing room that it had been cancelled.
Weldon, a former Republican congressman who has expressed skepticism about vaccine safety in the past, is an internist who served in Congress from 1995 to 2002 representing Florida’s 15th congressional district.
During his tenure, Weldon was a strong advocate for the U.S. space program, reflecting his district’s proximity to the Kennedy Space Center. He also focused on health care policy, leveraging his medical background to influence legislation. Notably, he introduced the Weldon Amendment, which prevents health care programs receiving federal funding from requiring health care entities to provide, pay for or refer for abortion services.
After leaving Congress, Weldon returned to medical practice and continued his involvement in health care and education. He has served as a clinical professor of biomedical engineering at the Florida Institute of Technology, teaching physiology and pathophysiology.
Despite his impressive credentials, Weldon’s nomination faced strong opposition due to his past skepticism about vaccine safety. He previously raised concerns about potential links between vaccines and autism—claims that have been widely debunked by the scientific community.
The CDC continues to operate under interim leadership as the search for a new director proceeds. The agency plays a pivotal role in monitoring public health threats and coordinating responses to health emergencies.
This is a breaking news story. Please check back for updates.
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He would have been perfect.