Trump Nominates Dave Weldon to Head CDC, Sparking Concerns Over Anti-Vaccine Views and Senate Hearing

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Updated Mar 12, 2025, 07:16 PM

President Donald Trump has nominated Dave Weldon, a former congressman, to head the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Weldon's support for anti-vaccine theories, including the debunked claim linking childhood vaccines to autism, spans over 14 years in Congress and is likely to be a focal point at his upcoming Senate hearing. His archives at the Florida Institute of Technology reveal a long history of advocacy for these views, even longer than those of Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the current Secretary of Health and Human Services. Weldon's nomination comes at a time when the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is led by Secretary Kennedy, who has also expressed controversial views on public health issues. Kennedy recently tried to involve himself in campus protest crackdowns, comparing antisemitism to a public health threat. In addition to Weldon, Trump has nominated Dr. Marty Makary to lead the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). During a meeting with Senator Durbin, Makary emphasized the need for a strong leader at the FDA to protect Americans' health against powerful industries and political pressures. Despite his history of supporting anti-vaccine theories, Weldon has stated in prepared testimony that he would recommend children receive measles vaccines. His nomination has sparked concerns among some who see his views as a potential threat to public health, especially given his past support for discredited scientist Andrew Wakefield. Weldon's name rose to the top of the administration’s short list for CDC directors after a push from Kennedy's team.

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#Donald Trump #Dave Weldon #CDC #Weldon #Congress #Senate #Florida Institute of Technology #Health and Human Services #HHS #Kennedy #Trump #Marty Makary #Food and Drug Administration #FDA #Durbin #Makary #Americans #Andrew Wakefield

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Sources

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Dr. Naomi Wolf. 8 NYT Bestsellers. DPhil, Poetry.

@naomirwolf

Brenda Baletti: “Trump’s Pick to Lead FDA Blasts Censorship, Praises MAHA” "Dr. Marty Makary, Trump’s pick to lead the FDA, dodged tough questions on abortion drugs and vaccine policies but pledged to fight toxic food additives and censorship—now, his confirmation vote looms."…

Sarah Owermohle

@owermohle

CDC nominee Dave Weldon is going to face a lot of questions tomorrow about his views on vaccines and autism. I went down to Florida to check out his congressional archives myself: https://t.co/6wfGZI10JR