By Julie Steenhuysen CHICAGO (Reuters) -Vaccine critic Dave Weldon, President Donald Trump's pick to lead the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, will face rising measles cases and bird flu threats at an agency already in turmoil from staff cuts and public distrust over the COVID-19 pandemic.

P resident Donald Trump’s nominee to head the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), former Republican Congressman Dr. Dave Weldon, is set to face questioning by Senators on March 13.

It is the first time the Senate has been called upon to confirm a C.D.C. director. Dr. Dave Weldon has close ties to Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the new health secretary.

Dave Weldon is a critic of the FDA, CDC and vaccines. Many wonder if he’s the best choice to lead the CDC amid measles, flu and avian influenza outbreaks.

President Donald Trump's nominee to run the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, David Weldon, will tell lawmakers on Thursday he plans to recommend the measles vaccines for children, Bloomberg News reported.

Dave Weldon, President Donald Trump’s pick to run the country’s top public health agency, said in a recent meeting that he still believes the debunked theory that the childhood immunization schedule may be linked to autism,

Weldon will be overseeing some reproductive care. His strong beliefs on abstinence, abortion, and end-of life care raises issues that should be discussed.

President Trump's nominee to head the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is getting ready to appear before Congress

David Weldon, President Donald Trump’s pick to run the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said he’d recommend children get measles vaccines in prepared testimony for his hearing in Congress Thursday.