White House Withdraws CDC Nominee Dave Weldon Hours Before Senate Hearing

The decision followed concerns over Weldon's vaccine skepticism and insufficient Senate support for confirmation.

Dave Weldon, a former congressman and physician, was informed by the White House that his nomination to lead the CDC was withdrawn due to a lack of Senate votes for confirmation.
Weldon's history of vaccine skepticism, including past statements questioning vaccine safety and links to autism, drew criticism from both Republican and Democratic senators.
Republican Senators Susan Collins and Bill Cassidy were identified by Weldon as key figures expressing reservations about his nomination, though both denied explicitly opposing him at the time of the decision.
Weldon blamed 'Big Pharma' for influencing opposition to his nomination, citing his history of challenging pharmaceutical companies during his time in Congress.
This marks the third Trump administration nominee withdrawn before a confirmation hearing, highlighting ongoing tensions in public health leadership appointments.