WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Tom Udall, vice chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, issued the following statement after the Trump administration formally announced the withdrawal of Robert Weaver’s nomination to be director of the Indian Health Service:
“Given the questions that came to light about Mr. Weaver’s suitability to lead a vitally important health system overseeing critical care for over 2 million people across the nation, it is appropriate that his nomination has been withdrawn. Progress at IHS is urgently needed, and the Trump administration owes it to Indian Country to live up to its promise to make IHS a priority. The Trump administration must swiftly nominate — and fully vet — a director who is highly qualified to run a large public health agency, while also upholding the government-to-government relationship by seeking Tribal input.”