The White House, in a surprise move, withdrew President Donald Trump's nomination of former Republican congressman and vaccine critic Dave Weldon to serve as director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention just hours before his confirmation hearing on Thursday.

All of Trump's nominees that require Senate confirmation have been green lighted by the Republican-controlled chamber. In his prepared testimony, Weldon said he plans to recommend the measles vaccines for children and he would focus on "restoring public confidence" in the CDC,

A person familiar with the matter said the White House pulled the nomination because it became clear Weldon did not have the votes for confirmation.