White House Withdraws CDC Director Nominee Dave Weldon

The White House has withdrawn its nomination of Dave Weldon to lead the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The decision came just before Weldon’s scheduled confirmation hearing before the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee.

Weldon, a physician and former Republican congressman, has been a vocal critic of vaccines.

His past remarks questioning vaccine safety and criticizing the CDC for its approach to vaccine oversight were expected to be key points of scrutiny during his hearing, CBS News wrote.

“It was clear he did not have the votes in the Senate,” CBS wrote, citing an administration official.

Also Read: NIH Trial Finds Tecovirimat Ineffective As Monotherapy For Mpox

In recent weeks, senators have raised concerns about the CDC's handling of vaccine-related issues, including the reopening of studies examining a potential link between vaccines and autism.

The agency also faced criticism for abruptly canceling a scheduled meeting of its outside immunization advisers, which has yet to be rescheduled.

The New York Times writes that Weldon has previously argued that the CDC has a conflict of interest in vaccine safety, as it regulates and promotes immunization programs.

During his time in Congress, Weldon pushed for moving the vaccine safety office outside the CDC's jurisdiction, citing a need for greater independence in evaluating vaccine risks. He also questioned the safety of the measles vaccine, a stance that placed him at odds with mainstream public health officials.

After the withdrawal, the Senate HELP Committee officially canceled Weldon's confirmation hearing, scheduled for Thursday. His nomination was notable because it would have been the first time a CDC director required Senate approval, a change from past practice where the position was filled through appointment.

Axios first reported the decision to withdraw the nomination.

Read Next:

• Carrier Global Debuts Environmental Product Declaration For Residential HVAC Systems: Details

Photo: Shutterstock