Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has faced a significant political setback with the withdrawal of his nominee for director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Bloomberg reports.
Dave Weldon, a former congressman and physician with a history of vaccine skepticism, saw his nomination pulled by the White House after resistance from key Republican senators.
The decision signals the challenges Kennedy faces in advancing his health policy agenda as US Health Secretary. Weldon, known for questioning vaccine safety, was set to appear before a Senate panel, but his confirmation prospects dimmed when lawmakers expressed concerns over his stance on childhood immunizations.
Kennedy, a longtime vaccine skeptic, has sought to integrate his views into federal health policy. His leadership at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has already led to the postponement of expert vaccine meetings, the review of government contracts for vaccine development, and the cancellation of studies on vaccine hesitancy. Appointing Weldon as CDC director would have further underscored this direction, but opposition from within the Republican Party proved a decisive obstacle.
Senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana acknowledged that there were not enough votes to confirm Weldon, while Senator Thom Tillis of North Carolina voiced concerns about messaging that might cast vaccines as “scary and risky.” Others, including Senators Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski, cited Weldon’s past statements linking vaccines to autism—a claim widely discredited by medical experts.
This was the first time a CDC director nomination required Senate confirmation, a new requirement under a recent law. The increased scrutiny brought Weldon’s past statements into focus, particularly his claim that vaccines could expose children to toxic mercury levels. Such statements have been refuted by scientific consensus, as the US removed mercury-based preservatives from childhood vaccines decades ago.
The withdrawal of Weldon’s nomination comes as a measles outbreak linked to unvaccinated children spreads in Texas and beyond, raising further debate over vaccine policies. Kennedy has maintained that vaccines should be available to those who want them but has also highlighted potential side effects, adding to the controversy.
With Weldon’s withdrawal, the Trump administration will need to select a new nominee for the CDC role. The balance between addressing the concerns of Kennedy’s health policy coalition and securing enough Senate support remains a challenge. Meanwhile, another nominee, Mehmet Oz, is set to face Senate confirmation hearings for a separate health leadership position later this week.
The outcome of Weldon’s nomination underscores the broader debate over vaccine policy in the US, revealing the limits of how far Kennedy’s views can influence public health leadership. As the administration moves forward, it remains to be seen who will be put forward next for the critical CDC position.
