WASHINGTON — The White House has retracted the nomination of Dr. David Weldon, an ex-congressman from Florida, to head the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The Senate health committee announced on Thursday morning that it had canceled a scheduled hearing concerning Weldon’s nomination due to its withdrawal.
A source with knowledge of the situation, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss private conversations, indicated that the White House decided to pull the nomination after determining that Weldon lacked the necessary votes for confirmation.
Weldon has been noted for his close alignment with Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the U.S. health secretary and a prominent anti-vaccine figure. Throughout his career, Weldon has also been an outspoken critic of both vaccines and the CDC, which is responsible for advocating vaccinations and ensuring their safety.