1. United States
2. Pa.
3. Letter

The nomination of Dr. David Weldon as director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) raises serious concerns. Weldon has a troubling history of promoting debunked claims about vaccines causing autism and advocating for separating the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine into individual components, despite overwhelming scientific evidence that the MMR vaccine does not cause autism. His views undermine public trust in well-established vaccine safety and efficacy data. Furthermore, Weldon served as president of an organization representing health care sharing ministries, which misleadingly market themselves as alternatives to traditional health insurance while lacking legal obligations to cover members' medical expenses. This experience contradicts CDC's mission of promoting equitable access to quality health care. Weldon also authored the Weldon Amendment, which impedes patients from receiving comprehensive information about reproductive health options, violating principles of informed consent and ethical medical practice. His stance on reproductive rights appears incompatible with CDC's role in monitoring maternal and infant health outcomes nationwide. Given Weldon's concerning record on public health issues and lack of relevant leadership experience or scholarly background in this field, I urge you to reject his nomination as CDC director. The agency's vital work demands a qualified, scientifically grounded leader committed to safeguarding public health through evidence-based policies and practices. Weldon's confirmation would undermine CDC's integrity and public trust.