Editor's note: Three days after the publication of this story, President Donald Trump announced Susan Monarez as his next nomination for director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention—read that news here.
Former Republican House Representative Michael Burgess, M.D., is a top choice for the White House’s second try at a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) director nomination, according to a Reuters report citing three anonymous sources.
One of the sources described Burgess to Reuters as the likely nominee but said that the decision is not yet final. The administration has not yet commented on its next choice for the role.
Burgess, 74, practiced as an obstetrics and gynecology doctor before stepping into Capitol Hill in 2003. He chose not to seek reelection this past year.
He was an influential voice on health policy, having previously held the chair of the House’s Subcommittee on Health. From 2017 onward he also headed the GOP Doctor’s Caucus as its chair.
The former lawmaker is a staunch opponent of the Affordable Care Act, often pushing for its repeal, and more broadly advocates to reduce federal spending on healthcare. Among his final legislative packages was the Dr. Michael C. Burgess Preventive Health Savings Act, passed in the House but not the Senate, which would instruct the Congressional Budget Office to weigh whether proposed bills would bring savings beyond the traditional 10-year outlook window as a result of preventive health services.
Recent years on the Hill also saw Burgess frequently arguing in favor of lifting the ban on new physician-owned hospitals in rural areas.
He was explicitly supportive of COVID-19 vaccination during the pandemic—a likely point in his favor among key senators who would be confirming his nomination.
Vaccine skepticism was a sticking point for Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. during his confirmation and remains so following his comments on an outbreak of measles that began in Burgess’ home state of Texas.
Controversial vaccine views were also what sunk the White House’s nomination of Dave Weldon, M.D. The fellow former lawmaker was once the sponsor of a bill that would have banned mercury from vaccines, and during his time in office pushed for more investigation of the debunked link between vaccines and autism. In closed-door meetings with lawmakers as recently as last month he reportedly reiterated his belief in the link.
The White House withdrew Weldon’s nomination last week just ahead of his Senate confirmation hearing. Weldon, in a statement, suggested that pushback from Sen. Bill Cassidy, M.D., R-Louisiana, a fellow physician who grilled Kennedy during confirmation for a promise to support vaccination, and Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, ended his nomination.
Outside of Burgess, another name that’s been floated by Trump allies as an option for the director position is Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo, M.D. He’s held that role since 2021, and in it gained national attention for his opposition to mask mandates and spread of misinformation relating to COVID-19 mRNA vaccines.
Following Weldon’s rescinded nomination, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis wrote on X that Ladapo “would be a fantastic selection” for the CDC’s next head.
In a statement emailed to CBS, Weldon said he also “thoroughly” supports Ladapo for the role and said he “has done a great job for us here in Florida.”
“Whoever [sic] they pick, to get past Cassidy, it’s best if they have never said anything remotely critical of the childhood vaccine program,” Weldon added.