The action in Congress was driven largely by U.S. Rep. Dan Burton, an Indiana Republican whose grandson had autism. Weldon was a prominent voice in Burton’s hearings and co-sponsored a bill that would give responsibility for the nation’s vaccine safety to an independent agency within HHS — an idea that not everyone in public health opposes.

Dr. Dave Weldon, a former Florida congressman and physician, is set to appear at a Senate confirmation hearing Thursday for his nomination to lead the CDC.

Unlike President Trump's picks to lead other health agencies who established their conservative bona fides during the Covid-19 pandemic,