In a recent development, a nomination setback unfolded as Dr. David Weldon, a former congressman from Florida, saw his nomination to head the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) retracted by the White House. The withdrawal came amid concerns over insufficient Republican backing needed for Senate confirmation.
The Senate’s health committee, led by Republicans, canceled Weldon’s confirmation hearing just moments before it was set to begin on Thursday. The decision followed a notification to Weldon on Wednesday night, stating that his confirmation was unlikely due to a lack of votes. In his statement, Weldon echoed the message, acknowledging the withdrawal was prompted by the uncertain support.
Key Republican figures like Sen. Lisa Murkowski expressed apprehensions regarding Weldon’s past vaccine skepticism, relaying her concerns directly to both Weldon and the White House. Meanwhile, other GOP Senators, Bill Cassidy and Susan Collins, remained undecided about their stance on his nomination.
Dr. Weldon, notable for his tenure as a central Florida district representative in Congress from 1995 to 2009, was an advocate for autism research. However, his skepticism towards studies dismissing vaccine links to autism and his accusations against the CDC for halting potential revealing research were contentious points. He attributed his nomination withdrawal partly to his historical confrontations with the CDC and pharmaceutical companies.
Weldon mentioned that Kennedy had informed him about Collins’ reported hesitancy regarding his nomination. Additionally, he speculated that Cassidy, who chairs the health committee, may have also opposed him. Collins acknowledged having reservations without a definitive stance, while Cassidy expressed surprise over the withdrawal and questioned Weldon’s readiness for the CDC role.
Democrat Sen. Patty Murray shared deep concerns after meeting with Weldon, criticizing his repetition of refuted claims regarding vaccines and the alleged risks of the childhood vaccine schedule.
The White House has yet to address the withdrawal publicly, nor has the President, who held an unrelated press event on the same day. Meanwhile, no statements were forthcoming from the Department of Health and Human Services in response to inquiries on the matter.
The CDC, with its substantial budget and responsibility to shield Americans from health threats, has historically been a venerated institution. Yet, its response to the COVID-19 crisis faced significant scrutiny. Recent efforts by Republican leaders, including Cassidy, propose reforms amidst broader government restructuring initiatives.
This occurrence marks the third instance where a nominee under the current administration failed to reach the Senate confirmation stage. Notably, Weldon would have been the inaugural CDC director nominee to face such a proceeding, a regulation instituted during Biden’s tenure.
Acting Director Susan Monarez continues to maintain her leadership at the CDC as the nomination process moves forward, with other candidates for elevated federal health roles proceeding in their confirmation paths. Recently, the Senate health panel approved Dr. Marty Makary for the Food and Drug Administration and Dr. Jay Bhattacharya for the National Institutes of Health, indicating a shift towards confirming other key health positions.
