Trump Administration Abruptly Pulls CDC Nominee Hours Before Senate Hearing
In a sudden reversal, the Trump administration has withdrawn its nomination of Dr. Dave Weldon for director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), just hours before he was scheduled to testify before the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee on Thursday.
🚨The White House just withdrew CDC director nominee Dave Weldon.
There's something fishy going on…Weldon was a top tier pick.
Here he is calling out the CDC for gatekeeping vaccine safety data👇 pic.twitter.com/HL31ljfxu2
— Died Suddenly (@DiedSuddenly_) March 13, 2025
The unexpected decision removed Weldon from the committee’s agenda, leaving only the confirmation hearings for Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, nominated for National Institutes of Health (NIH) director and Dr. Marty Makary, nominated for U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) commissioner.
A source familiar with the administration’s decision told Fox News, “It became clear that the votes weren’t there in the Senate for him to get confirmed. This would have been a futile effort.”
However, no official reason has been provided for the withdrawal.
Despite the nomination being pulled, Weldon still appeared on Capitol Hill on Thursday, prepared to testify. According to The Wall Street Journal, he was unaware that his nomination had been rescinded. An administration official, however, stated that Weldon had been informed the previous night, according to Fox News.
Weldon also confirmed that he had been notified before the confirmation hearing.
Heartfelt statement sent to reporters from Dr Dave Weldon following withdrawal of his nomination for CDC (1/4): pic.twitter.com/QekXteTooS
— Mary Talley Bowden MD (@MdBreathe) March 13, 2025
Weldon, a medical doctor and former Republican congressman from Florida, represented the state’s 15th Congressional District from 1995 to 2009. Over the years, he has drawn controversy for voicing concerns about vaccine safety.
In 2007, Weldon stated that there were “legitimate questions” about a possible link between vaccines and neurological disorders such as autism.
During his time in Congress, he co-sponsored legislation with then-Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) that sought to remove mercury from vaccines. His past comments and legislative record on the issue were expected to be key points of contention during his confirmation hearing.
Weldon’s withdrawal follows the confirmation of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS). Kennedy, long known for his skepticism of vaccine mandates, has questioned pharmaceutical industry influence on public health policy and has advocated for alternative treatments, including ivermectin and vitamin C, as options for COVID-19 prevention and treatment.
Kennedy’s confirmation process was highly contentious, with Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) grilling him over his past statements on vaccine safety. Despite strong opposition, President Donald Trump stood by his nominee and Kennedy ultimately secured confirmation after reaching an agreement with Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA).
Cassidy, a physician, backed Kennedy on the condition that they would meet regularly to discuss HHS policies on vaccines and drug approvals.
Given the administration’s success in securing Kennedy’s confirmation, some observers have questioned why Weldon’s nomination was pulled so abruptly. While no official statement has been made, speculation suggests that Senate Republicans may not have been fully united behind Weldon, making his confirmation uncertain.
With Weldon out of the running, the CDC remains without a confirmed director. The administration has not yet announced a replacement nominee.
The HELP Committee will proceed with hearings for Bhattacharya and Makary, both of whom have also expressed concerns about government overreach in public health policies.
The decision to withdraw Weldon’s nomination highlights the continued political battles over vaccine policies and public health leadership. The Trump administration has prioritized appointing officials who challenge mainstream narratives, particularly when it comes to pandemic response and pharmaceutical influence.
However, even within Republican circles, there appears to be some hesitation when it comes to confirming individuals with outspoken views on vaccines.
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