Trump’s CDC Nominee Faces Senate Scrutiny Over Vaccine Skepticism and Measles Outbreak

Dr. Dave Weldon, a former congressman and vocal vaccine critic, is questioned on his qualifications and public health priorities as measles cases rise and childhood vaccination rates decline.

Dr. Dave Weldon, President Trump’s nominee for CDC director, is being questioned by the Senate Health Committee regarding his vaccine skepticism and ability to lead the $9 billion agency.
Weldon has previously promoted the debunked claim linking vaccines to autism and proposed shifting the CDC's vaccine safety office to another HHS division during his time in Congress.
The measles outbreak in Texas, New Mexico, and Oklahoma has resulted in over 200 cases and two deaths, with public health experts raising concerns about Weldon’s stance on vaccination policies.
Weldon’s nomination comes as childhood vaccination rates in the U.S. have dropped to their lowest levels in years, sparking worries about the resurgence of vaccine-preventable diseases.
Critics, including public health advocates, question Weldon’s qualifications and alignment with anti-vaccine rhetoric, especially under the leadership of HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., another vocal vaccine skeptic.