The White House is calling on the Senate to confirm Dr. Casey Means as U.S. surgeon general "without further delay," despite President Donald Trump’s recent uncertainty about her nomination. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt reiterated Trump’s support for Means on March 31, stating she is "the best suited to advance President Trump’s agenda to Make America Healthy Again." However, Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One on Sunday that he was unsure about her progress, adding, "We have a lot of great candidates."
Means’ nomination remains pending in the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, with no clear timeline for a vote. Committee Chairman Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) declined to comment on her status, and the Senate adjourned for a two-week Easter recess on Thursday.
If confirmed, Means would align with Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on the "Make America Healthy Again" initiative. Her brother, Calley Means, is a White House adviser, and she previously advised Kennedy’s presidential campaign. However, her stances on vaccines, birth control, and pesticides have drawn criticism from lawmakers on both sides of the aisle.
Background on Means: A bestselling author and researcher, Means has built her career criticizing the role of unhealthy foods in chronic diseases. Her nomination has sparked debate over her controversial health claims, including depictions of vaccines and pesticides as dangerous.