While in Congress, Weldon introduced a bill that would give responsibility for the nation's vaccine safety to an independent agency within the HHS.

Johns Hopkins surgeon Dr. Marty Makary is his choice for the FDA and Dr. Janette Nesheiwat is in line to be the next surgeon general. Dr. Dave Weldon of Florida is slated to run the CDC.

Weldon, 71, is a medical doctor and former lawmaker who served in the House, representing Florida. The former congressman has been a strong critic of the CDC, especially its vaccine program. Weldon has championed the long-debunked notion that thimerosal, a vaccine preservative, is linked to autism.