Editing Dave Weldon

{{Short description|American politician and physician (born 1953)}}
{{BLP sources|date=March 2025}}
{{use mdy dates|date=December 2023}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name                = Dave Weldon
| image               = David Weldon.jpg
| caption             = Official portrait, 2005
| state               = [[Florida]]
| district            = {{ushr|FL|15|15th}}
| term_start          = January 3, 1995
| term_end            = January 3, 2009
| predecessor         = [[Jim Bacchus]]
| successor           = [[Bill Posey]]
| birth_name          = David Joseph Weldon
| birth_date          = {{birth date and age|1953|8|31}}
| birth_place         = [[Amityville, New York]], U.S.
| death_date          = 
| death_place         = 
| party               = [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| spouse              = {{marriage|Nancy Weldon|1979}}
| children            = 2
| education           = [[Stony Brook University]] ([[Bachelor of Science|BS]])<br />[[University at Buffalo]] ([[Doctor of Medicine|MD]])
| allegiance          = United States 
| branch              = {{tree list}}
* [[United States Army]]
** [[United States Army Reserve|Army Reserve]]
{{tree list/end}}
| serviceyears        = {{ubl|1981–1987 (active)|1987–1992 (reserve)}}
}}
'''David Joseph Weldon''' (born August 31, 1953) is an American politician and physician. He was a [[United States Republican Party|Republican]] member of the [[United States House of Representatives]], representing {{ushr|Florida|15|}}, and was an unsuccessful candidate for the Republican nomination in [[2012 United States Senate election in Florida|Florida's 2012 U.S. Senate race]].

On November 22, 2024, [[Donald Trump]] nominated Weldon as the next director of the [[Centers for Disease Control and Prevention]], who requires Senate confirmation. His nomination has drawn attention for his promotion of the disputed claim of a causal link between [[vaccines and autism]], critiques of federal health agencies, and his emphasis on safeguarding personal freedoms in public health policy. Trump withdrew his nomination on March 13, 2025.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cancryn |first=Adam |date=2025-03-13 |title=White House withdraws CDC director nominee |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2025/03/13/white-house-to-withdraw-cdc-director-nominee-00228166 |access-date=2025-03-15 |website=POLITICO |language=en}}</ref>

==Early life, education, and career==
{{BLP sources|date=November 2024}}
Weldon was born in [[Amityville, New York]] on [[Long Island, New York|Long Island]]<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hooker |first=Theresa |date=2016-10-19 |title=Finding Aid of Congressman Dave Weldon M.D. Papers |url=https://ais.lib.fit.edu/repositories/3/resources/26 |access-date=2024-11-23 |website=Florida Institute of Technology}}</ref> to Anna (née Mallardi) and David Joseph Weldon Sr.  He graduated from [[Farmingdale High School]] in 1971 and [[Stony Brook University]] in 1978.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Devlin |first=Hannah |date=2024-12-02 |title=Trump picks Farmingdale's Dave Weldon for CDC |url=https://www.longislandpress.com/2024/12/02/trump-picks-dave-weldon-cdc/ |access-date=2024-12-03 |website=www.longislandpress.com |language=en-US}}</ref>  He earned his M.D. degree at the [[University at Buffalo]] School of Medicine in 1981.

Weldon served in the [[United States Army]] from 1981 to 1987 and the [[United States Army Reserve]] from 1987 until 1992. He practiced as a physician in Florida.

==U.S. House of Representatives==

===Elections===
In the 1994 elections, Weldon decided to run in [[Florida's 15th congressional district]], vacated by Democratic U.S. congressman [[Jim Bacchus]]. He was one of seven Republicans to file for the primary. On September 8, he ranked first with 24% of the vote, but failed to reach the 50% threshold to win outright.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=431170|title=Our Campaigns - FL District 15 - R Primary Race - Sep 08, 1994|website=www.ourcampaigns.com|access-date=14 December 2017}}</ref> In the October 4 run-off election, he defeated Carole Jean Jordan 54–46%.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=92424|title=Our Campaigns - FL District 15 - R Runoff Race - Oct 04, 1994|website=www.ourcampaigns.com|access-date=14 December 2017}}</ref> In the November general election, he defeated Democrat Sue Munsey 54–46%.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=27586|title=Our Campaigns - FL District 15 Race - Nov 08, 1994|website=www.ourcampaigns.com|access-date=14 December 2017}}</ref>

In 1996, he won re-election to a second term defeating John L. Byron 51–43%.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=27568|title=Our Campaigns - FL District 15 Race - Nov 05, 1996|website=www.ourcampaigns.com|access-date=14 December 2017}}</ref> In 1998, he won re-election to a third term with 63% of the vote.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=23064|title=Our Campaigns - FL District 15 Race - Nov 03, 1998|website=www.ourcampaigns.com|access-date=14 December 2017}}</ref> In 2000, he won re-election to a fourth term with 59% of the vote.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=439|title=Our Campaigns - FL District 15 Race - Nov 07, 2000|website=www.ourcampaigns.com|access-date=14 December 2017}}</ref> In 2002, he won re-election to a fifth term with 63% of the vote.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=1489|title=Our Campaigns - FL District 15 Race - Nov 05, 2002|website=www.ourcampaigns.com|access-date=14 December 2017}}</ref> In 2004, he won re-election to a sixth term with 65% of the vote.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=4085|title=Our Campaigns - FL - District 15 Race - Nov 02, 2004|website=www.ourcampaigns.com|access-date=14 December 2017}}</ref>

Former presidential candidate [[Bob Bowman (politician)|Bob Bowman]], a Democrat, challenged Weldon in 2006. The incumbent raised significantly more campaign funds than Bowman. By the end of September, Weldon's total was $673,321 versus $21,944 for Bowman.<ref>Larry Wheeler, [http://www.floridatoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061018/NEWS01/610180363 "GOP leading Space Coast race for cash: Weldon, Feeney report finances"], ''Florida Today'', October 18, 2006</ref> Weldon also refused to debate Bowman during the campaign.<ref>Amber Smith, [http://www.theledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061031/NEWS/610310307 "Incumbent Touts His Achievements"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930165137/http://www.theledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061031/NEWS/610310307 |date=September 30, 2007 }}, ''The Ledger'', October 31, 2006</ref> In the November election, Weldon received 125,596 votes to Bowman's 97,947.<ref>John McCarthy, [http://www.floridatoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061108/NEWS05/611080406/1098 "Weldon coasts to an easy win"], ''Florida Today'', November 8, 2006</ref> Weldon won re-election to a seventh term with 56% of the vote.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=206814|title=Our Campaigns - FL - District 15 Race - Nov 07, 2006|website=www.ourcampaigns.com|access-date=14 December 2017}}</ref>

On January 25, 2008, Weldon announced he would not seek an eighth term and would be returning to his medical practice, with a spokesperson explaining that "[h]e never wanted to be a career politician."<ref>Mary Ann Akers, [https://web.archive.org/web/20120918120303/http://voices.washingtonpost.com/sleuth/2008/01/rep_weldon_to_spend_more_time.html "Rep. Weldon To Spend More Time With Family, Really"], ''Washington Post'', January 25, 2008</ref> He endorsed state senator [[Bill Posey]] to succeed him.

===Tenure===
In 2004, Weldon introduced the Weldon Amendment<ref>{{cite web |title=The Weldon Amendment: Interfering with Abortion Coverage and Care |url=https://www.guttmacher.org/sites/default/files/factsheet/weldon-amendment.pdf |website=Guttmacher Institute |access-date=19 December 2024}}</ref> to an appropriations measure. The amendment prevents healthcare programs receiving federal funding from requiring healthcare entities (including doctors, hospitals, and health insurance plans) to provide, pay for, or refer for abortion services. The amendment has been included in annual appropriations bills since 2005.<ref name=NYTimes11.29.24/><ref name="pmid15626793">{{cite journal |vauthors=Tanne JH |title=New US "abortion non-discrimination act" faces legal challenges |journal=BMJ (Clinical Research Edition) |volume=330 |issue=7481 |pages=9 |date=January 2005 |pmid=15626793 |pmc=539871 |doi=10.1136/bmj.330.7481.9-a}}</ref>

In response to the legal battle over the removal of the feeding tube of [[Terri Schiavo]], Weldon introduced legislation to force review of the case by the federal government. Weldon, who has a medical degree, believed that Schiavo was not in a vegetative state. He supported his belief saying, "She responds to verbal stimuli, she attempts to vocalize, she tracks with her eyes, she emotes, she attempts to kiss her father."<ref>Aimie Parnes, [http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2005/mar/12/ndn_amie_parnes__lawmaker_races_clock_in_attempt_t/ link "Lawmaker races clock in attempt to save Schiavo"], ''Naples News'', March 12, 2005</ref>

In December, 2005, Weldon joined with several other congressmen to form the [[Second Amendments]], a [[rock music|rock]] and [[country music|country]] band set to play for United States troops stationed overseas over the holiday season. Weldon plays the bass guitar.<ref>https://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051222/ap_en_mu/rockin__congressmen {{Dead link|date=February 2022}}</ref>

During his tenure in Congress, Weldon promoted the disproven claim that [[Thiomersal and vaccines|thimerosal]], a mercury-based preservative once used in some vaccines, was [[Vaccines and autism|linked to an increase in autism]]. In 2007, he introduced legislation aimed at transferring vaccine safety oversight from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to an independent agency within the [[Department of Health and Human Services]] (HHS).<ref name="SI">{{Cite web |last=London |first=William Matthew |date=2024-12-17 |title=Dr. David Weldon Is a Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Choice for CDC Director |url=https://skepticalinquirer.org/exclusive/dr-david-weldon-is-a-terrible-horrible-no-good-very-bad-choice-for-cdc-director/ |archive-url=https://archive.today/20241219174529/https://skepticalinquirer.org/exclusive/dr-david-weldon-is-a-terrible-horrible-no-good-very-bad-choice-for-cdc-director/ |archive-date=2024-12-19 |access-date=2024-12-19 |website=Skeptical Inquirer |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=NYTimes11.29.24/><ref name="Messerly 2024">{{cite web |last=Messerly |first=Megan |title=Trump picks former Florida Rep. Weldon to lead CDC |website=POLITICO |date=November 22, 2024 |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2024/11/22/dave-weldon-cdc-trump-pick-00191383 |access-date=December 15, 2024}}</ref><ref name="Baumgaertner 2024">{{cite web |last1=Baumgaertner |first1=Emily |last2=Rosenbluth |first2=Teddy |title=Trump Chooses Dr. David Weldon, a Former Congressman, to Lead the C.D.C. |website=The New York Times |date=November 23, 2024 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/11/22/health/weldon-cdc.html |access-date=December 15, 2024}}</ref> He cited concerns about the integrity of the federal vaccine safety review process, stating there were conflicts of interest and inadequate research funding as reasons for introducing the bill. Weldon has publicly questioned the safety of specific vaccines, including the [[MMR vaccine|measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine]] and [[Gardasil]], a vaccine that protects against certain strains of [[human papillomavirus]] (HPV).<ref name=NYTimes11.29.24/><ref name="Messerly 2024"/><ref name="Baumgaertner 2024"/>

Weldon was a vocal advocate for [[Medical privacy|medical privacy rights]], sponsoring legislation to limit government access to patient health records without consent.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Anahad O'Connor |first1=Anahad |last2=Harris |first2=Gardiner |date=25 February 2005 |title=Health Agency Splits Program Amid Vaccination Dispute |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/02/25/politics/health-agency-splits-program-amid-vaccination-dispute.html |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20210610112352/https://www.nytimes.com/2005/02/25/politics/health-agency-splits-program-amid-vaccination-dispute.html |archive-date=2021-06-10 |access-date=2024-12-22 |work=[[The New York Times]] |language=en}}</ref>

===Committee assignments===
*[[United States House Committee on Appropriations|Committee on Appropriations]]
**[[United States House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies|Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies]]
**[[United States House Appropriations Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs|Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs]]
*[[United States House Committee on Science|Committee on Science]]
*[[United States House Committee on Education and the Workforce|Committee on Education and the Workforce]]
*[[United States House Committee on Banking and Currency|Committee on Banking and Currency]]
*[[United States House Committee on Government Reform|Committee on Government Reform]]

===Caucus memberships===
*[[Republican Study Committee]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://daveweldonforsenate.com/meet-dave/ |title=Meet Dave - Dave Weldon for Senate |access-date=2012-07-19 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120808080950/http://daveweldonforsenate.com/meet-dave/ |archive-date=2012-08-08 }}</ref>
*Congressional Aerospace Caucus (Co-founder and chair)
*Congressional [[Israel Allies Caucus]] (Co-founder and chair)

==2012 U.S. Senate election==
{{Main|2012 United States Senate election in Florida}}

Weldon decided to run for the U.S. Senate in 2012 in the hope of facing Democratic incumbent [[Bill Nelson (politician)|Bill Nelson]]. His opponent in the Republican primary was U.S. representative [[Connie Mack IV]]. Weldon ran as a [[Christian right|Christian conservative]], and trailed Mack in both funding and name recognition. He lost the Republican primary with 20% of the vote, coming in second behind Mack's 59%. Mack went on to lose the general election to Nelson, 42%-55%.

==2024 Florida House of Representatives election==
{{Main|2024 Florida House of Representatives election}}

Weldon ran for Florida's 32nd House of Representatives district in 2024 against state senator [[Debbie Mayfield]], losing the primary 35% to 65%.{{citation needed|date=March 2025}}

==Post-politics==
Weldon has a medical practice at Health First Medical Group in [[Malabar, Florida]].{{citation needed|date=March 2025}}

In 2017, he became the president of the [[Alliance of Health Care Sharing Ministries]], a trade group for Christian organizations that offered an alternative to traditional health insurance.<ref name=NYTimes11.29.24/>

== CDC director nomination ==
On November 22, 2024, [[Donald Trump]] nominated Weldon as the next director of the [[Centers for Disease Control and Prevention]], who requires Senate confirmation.<ref>{{cite web|title=Trump chooses Dr. Dave Weldon to head Center for Disease Control |url=https://www.cnn.com/politics/live-news/trump-transition-news-11-22-24#cm3tg8k1g00053b6rlstc9s82|publisher=[[CNN]]|language=en-US|url-status=live|date=November 22, 2024|access-date=March 13, 2025|archive-date=March 13, 2025|archive-url=https://archive.today/20250313163915/https://www.cnn.com/politics/live-news/trump-transition-news-11-22-24%23cm3tg8k1g00053b6rlstc9s82}}</ref> According to ''[[The Washington Post]]'', Secretary of Health and Human Services nominee [[Robert F. Kennedy Jr.]] proposed Weldon to the position.<ref name=WashPost12.15.24>{{Cite news|last1=Sun|first1=Lena H.|last2=Nirappil|first2=Fenit |last3=Schaffer |first3=Aaron |date=15 December 2024|title=Trump's CDC pick wouldn't let go of false theory that vaccines cause autism |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2024/12/15/dave-weldon-trump-cdc-vaccine-skepticism/ |access-date=22 December 2024|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]}}</ref> His nomination drew attention for his promotion of the scientifically disproved claim of a causal link between [[vaccines and autism]], his critiques of the CDC and federal health officials, his position that abstinence was the most effective way to curb sexually transmitted infections, and the fact that he lacked training or experience in public health, including running an organization as large as the CDC.<ref name=NYTimes11.29.24>{{Cite news |date=2024-11-29 |title=Dr. Dave Weldon, Trump's C.D.C. Pick, Was Not on Anyone's Radar |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/11/29/health/dave-weldon-cdc.html |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20241216231924/https://www.nytimes.com/2024/11/29/health/dave-weldon-cdc.html |archive-date=2024-12-16 |access-date=2024-12-22 |work=[[The New York Times]] |language=en}}</ref> Anti-vaccine activists and groups celebrated his nomination.<ref name=Guardian12.22.24>{{Cite news |last=Schreiber |first=Melody|date=2024-12-01|title='He is one of us!': US anti-vaxxers rejoice at nomination of David Weldon for CDC |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/dec/01/antivaxxers-david-weldon-cdc-nomination |access-date=2024-12-22 |work=[[The Guardian]] |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref><ref name=WashPost12.15.24/><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-11-25 |title=Dave Weldon, Trump's CDC pick, could bolster an RFK Jr. anti-vaccine agenda |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/weldon-trump-cdc-rfk-jr-vaccine-children-rcna181701 |access-date=2024-12-22 |website=NBC News |language=en}}</ref> Trump withdrew his nomination in March 2025.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/13/health/cdc-weldon-confirmation-hearing.html |title=White House Withdraws Nominee for C.D.C. Director |date=March 13, 2025 |last1=Mandavilli |first1=Apoorva |last2=Gay Stolberg |first2=Sheryl|work=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=March 13, 2025}}</ref>

== Views ==
Weldon has promoted the scientifically disproved claim of a causal link between [[vaccines and autism]].<ref name=NYTimes11.29.24/><ref name=Guardian12.22.24/><ref name=WashPost12.15.24/> In 2016, he appeared in the anti-vaccine movie ''[[Vaxxed]]''; the conspiracy moviemaker, discredited doctor, and fraudulent anti-vaccine activist [[Andrew Wakefield]] touted Weldon as his ideal choice as the CDC director in [[First presidency of Donald Trump|Trump's first presidency]]. In a 2019 appearance on a TV show broadcast by the [[Sinclair Broadcast Group]], Weldon falsely claimed "some children can get an autism spectrum disorder from a vaccine". Weldon has called himself a supporter of vaccines and has voiced support of [[COVID-19 vaccine]]s.<ref name=WashPost12.15.24/>

==See also==
* [[2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Florida]]

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

==External links==
{{wikisource author}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20051027065513/http://weldon.house.gov/ Congressman Dave Weldon] ''official U.S. House website''
*[http://weldon.org/ Dave Weldon for Congress] ''official campaign website''
*{{C-SPAN|37057}}
*{{CongLinks | congbio=w000267 | votesmart= | fec=H4FL15114 | congress= }}<!--
Links formerly displayed via the CongLinks template:
*[http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/summary.php?cid=N00002807 Financial information (federal office)] at [[Center for Responsive Politics|OpenSecrets.org]]
*[http://www.ontheissues.org/FL/Dave_Weldon.htm Issue positions and quotes] at [[On the Issues]]
* -->
*[https://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/health/july-dec04/weldon.html Online Focus: U.S. Rep. Dave Weldon] (interview re: [[stem cell research]]), [[Public Broadcasting Service]] (August 9, 2004)
*[http://www.safeminds.org/research/library/20010111.pdf Rep. Dave Weldon, M.D.] testimony before the Institute of Medicine Immunization Safety Review Committee, SafeMinds (January 11, 2001)
*[https://www.congress.gov/nomination/119th-congress/12/44?s=7&r=111] ''Presidential Nomination to be Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at Congress' official website''

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Weldon, Dave}}
[[Category:1953 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:People from Indialantic, Florida]]
[[Category:University at Buffalo alumni]]
[[Category:People from Amityville, New York]]
[[Category:Stony Brook University alumni]]
[[Category:United States Army officers]]
[[Category:Republican Party members of the United States House of Representatives from Florida]]
[[Category:Candidates in the 2012 United States elections]]
[[Category:20th-century American physicians]]
[[Category:United States Army reservists]]
[[Category:Second Trump administration personnel]]
[[Category:21st-century members of the United States House of Representatives]]
[[Category:20th-century members of the United States House of Representatives]]
[[Category:American anti-vaccination activists]]
[[Category:Thiomersal and vaccines]]