President Donald Trump’s nominee for surgeon general, Dr. Casey Means, is getting grilled Wednesday before Congress about her stance on an array of public health issues, including vaccines.
Means has proven to be a controversial pick for the role — considered to be the “nation’s doctor” — across the political spectrum. A graduate of Stanford Medical School, she dropped out of her residency and lacks an active medical license. She has most recently made her name as a wellness influencer, hawking dietary supplements and other products, and authoring a book called “Good Energy: The Surprising Connection Between Metabolism and Limitless Health.”
She co-authored that book with her brother, Calley Means, who worked as a special government employee in the White House until last fall. He was in the audience at her testimony on Wednesday.
Means, who has been a vocal proponent of the “Make America Healthy Again” movement, has attracted criticism from both Democrats and Republicans, including right-wing provocateur Laura Loomer, a Trump ally, for her limited medical credentials.
The president previously said he does not know Means, but that Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. “thought she was fantastic.” Responding to critics last year, Kennedy said: “Casey is the perfect choice for Surgeon General precisely because she left the traditional medical system–not in spite of it.”
She was originally scheduled to testify before the Senate in October, but that was postponed after she went into labor to give birth to her child just hours before the hearing was set to begin.
Thus far during her confirmation hearing before the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee on Wednesday, senators have pressed Means on topics ranging from vaccines to birth control.
Means acknowledged “vaccines save lives,” but refused to commit to encouraging parents to vaccine their children against measles and the flu.
“You’re the Nation’s Doctor, would you encourage [a mother] to have her child vaccinated?” Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., the chairman of the committee, asked.
“I’m not an individual’s doctor, and every individual needs to talk to their doctor before putting a medication their body,” Means replied.
“I’m absolutely in support of the measles vaccine and I do believe vaccines save lives and are important part of the public health strategy,” she added.
When Cassidy asked if Means accepts the evidence that vaccines do not cause autism, she replied: “I do accept that evidence. I also think that science has never settled.”
Means told the committee that her “dream” for the position is “first and foremost to help nudge, push, inspire our healthcare system towards focusing on root causes and the reasons why we’re getting sick” — also a core focus of Kennedy’s so-called MAHA movement. But Means also suggested she would be willing to stand up to people within the administration if necessary. When Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., asked if she would contradict a statement from Dr. Tracy Beth Høeg, acting director of FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research and a vaccine skeptic, casting doubt on RSV vaccines for babies, Means said, “I certainly have absolutely no issue having very frank conversations with anyone in the administration if I believe that their statements are misguided in some way or not fully informed.” Murray also asked Means if she believes women should trust FDA-approved birth control, given that Means has railed against the pills, claiming they shut down a woman’s “life-giving nature” and have “horrifying health risks.” “I absolutely believe these medications should be accessible to all women, and also all medications have risks and benefits,” Means replied. The job of surgeon general, which has been around since the 19th century, has two requirements: The candidate must be a member of the Regular Corps, part of the Commissioned Corps of the U.S. Public Health Service, which the surgeon general oversees; and must have “specialized training or significant experience in public health programs.” Prior surgeons general have issued public health warnings on issues ranging from the threat social media poses to young people’s mental health and the national crisis of firearm violence. This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
Julianne McShane is a breaking news reporter for MS NOW who also covers the politics of abortion and reproductive rights. You can send her tips from a non-work device on Signal at jmcshane.19 or follow her on X or Bluesky. Recommended
