1. United States
2. Ga.
3. Letter

As alarming details emerge about David Weldon's anti-abortion, anti-science record, it is crucial to voice strong opposition to his nomination as Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The CDC plays a vital role in safeguarding public health through evidence-based research, disease surveillance, and educational initiatives. Weldon's history of undermining abortion access, spreading misinformation about reproductive health, and promoting anti-vaccine conspiracy theories directly contradicts the CDC's mission and jeopardizes its ability to effectively respond to public health crises. Weldon's discriminatory Weldon Amendment has obstructed abortion care for countless individuals by enabling healthcare providers to deny reproductive services based on personal beliefs rather than medical ethics. His confirmation could grant him access to sensitive patient data, potentially leading to a nationwide abortion database subject to surveillance and criminalization efforts, disproportionately harming marginalized communities. Moreover, his rejection of scientifically established facts, such as the safety of vaccines and the absence of a link between abortion and breast cancer, raises grave concerns about his ability to lead an agency that relies on rigorous scientific methods and data-driven policymaking. Appointing an anti-abortion zealot with a history of disregarding medical consensus as the nation's top public health official would severely undermine the CDC's credibility and compromise its ability to address critical issues like maternal mortality, infectious disease control, and equitable healthcare access. In the midst of ongoing public health crises, it is imperative to have a Director who prioritizes evidence-based practices and the well-being of all individuals over personal ideologies.