Casey Means, a wellness influencer and ally of Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., is one step closer to becoming the nation's surgeon general. On Wednesday, she testified before the Senate health committee, where senators questioned her stance on vaccines and birth control. Despite her support for vaccination against measles and other diseases, Means faced scrutiny over her past vaccine skepticism and her endorsement of debunked theories linking vaccines to autism. This has sparked controversy, with Senator Bernie Sanders criticizing the Trump administration's promotion of dangerous vaccine conspiracy theories.
Means also faced questions about her views on birth control, acknowledging the accessibility of contraceptives but emphasizing the importance of patient-doctor discussions regarding hormonal medication risks. Her nomination has faced opposition from conservative activists, including Laura Loomer, who have raised concerns about her potential financial conflicts of interest and promotion of wellness products through her newsletter, The Good Energy Newsletter. Public Citizen's analysis revealed that she failed to disclose financial relationships with promoted companies over half the time.
Means co-founded the health-tech app Levels and holds shares in Truemed, a company owned by her brother, Calley Means, an adviser on food policy. She has pledged to resign from these companies if confirmed. In her testimony, Means highlighted the root causes of chronic diseases, including diet, medicine overuse, physical inactivity, chemical exposure, chronic stress, and loneliness. She blamed sugar consumption for contributing to the public health crisis, emphasizing its role in leading causes of death.
Means is Trump's second nominee for the surgeon general role, facing opposition from conservative activists. Her medical background includes a Stanford University School of Medicine graduation and an early departure from her surgical residency. Her Oregon medical license is listed as inactive, which she attributed to a voluntary decision. The confirmation process continues, with the Senate health committee's expected vote and potential full Senate confirmation, despite ongoing controversies and concerns.
