White House withdraws Trump’s nominee for CDC Director, Dave Weldon

The White House has withdrawn President Donald Trump’s nominee for the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), former Rep. Dave Weldon, as confirmed by the Senate’s Health committee on Thursday.

This decision came mere hours before Weldon, who is known for his skepticism regarding vaccines, was scheduled to testify before the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions for a confirmation hearing.

Axios was the first to report the news on Thursday. Robert F. Kennedy, the head of the Department of Health and Human Services, stated that Weldon was not adequately prepared for the position, according to Axios. HHS oversees the CDC alongside all other federal health organizations.

Weldon’s perspectives largely coincide with those of Kennedy, who is infamous for his anti-vaccine stance. At 71, Weldon has consistently expressed concerns over the safety of several vaccines, endorsing the debunked theory that vaccines may be linked to autism. In 2006, he appeared alongside parents who alleged that the CDC had suppressed evidence connecting vaccinations to the onset of autism in children.

Reports suggest that the CDC will re-evaluate this supposed connection under Kennedy’s direction, despite extensive research disproving it.

During his time in Congress, Weldon sponsored legislation aimed at shifting vaccine safety oversight away from the CDC. He argued that the agency had a conflict of interest as it both purchases and advocates for vaccines. However, the bill did not progress beyond committee stages.

Weldon is a practicing internal medicine physician who represented his district in Congress for 14 years, from 1995 until 2009.

This story is developing. Please check back for updates.