The White House has withdrawn the nomination of former Republican congressman Dave Weldon to lead the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), just hours before his scheduled Senate committee testimony.
Weldon, 71, was expected to appear before the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee on Thursday, but a White House spokesperson confirmed that his nomination was no longer being considered.
The decision came after Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. expressed concerns about Weldon’s readiness for the role, as reported by Axios.
Weldon has previously expressed skepticism about the link between vaccination and autism, suggesting mercury as a potential cause.
During his time in Congress, Weldon co-sponsored legislation aimed at banning mercury in vaccines.
Similarly, Kennedy faced tough questioning during his confirmation hearing regarding his views on various vaccines but ultimately secured approval from the HELP Committee and was confirmed.
