President Trump Withdraws CDC Nominee Dr. Dave Weldon, Served Seven Terms as Brevard’s Congressman

decision follows concerns that Dr. Weldon lacked necessary votes for Senate confirmation

WASHINGTON, DC – President Donald Trump has withdrawn his nomination of Brevard County’s Dr. Dave Weldon to lead the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The decision follows concerns that Dr. Weldon lacked the necessary votes for Senate confirmation.

Weldon, a former Florida congressman and physician, was set to appear before the Senate Health Committee for a confirmation hearing on Thursday. However, the panel canceled the hearing, signaling a shift in direction.

President Trump initially nominated Weldon in late 2024, before returning to office, stating that Weldon would “proudly restore the CDC to its true purpose and work to end the chronic disease epidemic.”

The CDC employs approximately 12,600 staff members and is the nation’s leading public health agency.

Weldon, a U.S. Army veteran and respected physician, represented Florida in the House of Representatives from 1995 to 2009 before retiring from Congress.

While serving in Congress, Weldon criticized the CDC’s role in vaccine oversight and advocated for an independent agency to monitor vaccine safety, expressing concerns over potential side effects.

In 1994, Dr. Weldon ran successfully for Congress and became part of the first Republican majority in the U.S. House in 40 years.

He served seven terms in Congress on committees and caucuses, including the Science Committee, the Education and Workforce Committee, Banking and Financial Services, Government Reform and Oversight, and the Appropriations Committee. He was also a member of the conservative Republican Study Committee and served on the Speaker’s Task Force on Healthcare Reform in his freshman term.

Florida’s District 15, during Dr. Weldon’s service in Congress, encompassed Kennedy Space Center and was home to the nation’s Space Shuttle, Patrick Air Force Base, and Cape Canaveral Air Station. He was one of the founding members of the Aerospace Caucus, which worked closely with the Aerospace Industries Association to promote job growth and support our nation’s aerospace industrial base.

As a physician, Dr. Weldon became involved with many health care policy issues, including efforts to ban human cloning and vaccine safety. He helped lead the effort to remove toxic mercury-containing preservatives from childhood vaccines.

For his health care work in Congress, Dr. Weldon was awarded the status of Fellow of the American College of Physicians in 2005. He also worked closely with former U.S. Health Secretary Tommy Thompson on President George Bush’s Africa AIDS initiative.

In 2006, Dr. Weldon founded the Israel Allies Caucus in the U.S. House, which was formed to strengthen ties with Israel and help establish a safe and secure future for the people of Israel. In 2007, he partnered with Israeli Knesset member Benny Elon to create the International Israel Allies Caucus Foundation, or IIACF. The IIACF maintains an office in Washington, D.C., and Dr. Weldon remains active on its board.

Dr. Weldon was a member of “The Second Amendments,” a bipartisan rock and country band that performed at Farm Aid, We-Fest, and other events. He and fellow band members Representatives Thaddeus McCotter, Colin Peterson, Kenny Hulshof, and John Porter entertained troops in Iraq and Afghanistan in 2005.

He currently serves on several charity boards that support the nation’s space program. He has been married to his wife, Nancy, for over 30 years and has two children, Katie and David.

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