Casey Means Faces Uphill Battle as Surgeon General Nominee in Vaccine Scrutiny
Trump's Surgeon General Pick Faces Uphill Battle
Casey Means, President Trump's nominee for surgeon general, remains short of confirmation votes following a contentious Senate hearing. Two key Republican senators expressed uncertainty after Means fielded sharp questions on her vaccine skepticism and ties to Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s health policies. As a prominent voice in the Make America Healthy Again movement, Means advocated exploring all factors in autism rates, despite scientific consensus attributing it primarily to genetics.
Hearing Highlights and Challenges
During the February 25, 2026, session before the Senate HELP Committee, Sen. Bill Cassidy pressed Means on promoting vaccinations amid measles and whooping cough outbreaks. Critics highlighted her inactive medical license, past psychedelic use, and business interests like Levels and Function Health, raising conflict concerns. Means, a new mother whose prior hearing was postponed due to labor, emphasized national healing and maternal awe in her testimony.
Political Stakes and Future Outlook
Cassidy, navigating reelection pressures and past Trump tensions, secured vaccine safety pledges from Kennedy but remains wary. Means' nomination, revived after expiration, underscores ideological divides in public health. Red states eye relaxed mandates, but her path hinges on swaying undecided senators amid trust restoration debates.
About the People Mentioned
Casey Means
Casey Means, MD, is a Stanford University School of Medicine-trained physician, entrepreneur, #1 New York Times bestselling author, and advocate for metabolic health and preventive medicine.[1][2] Born around 1988, she graduated with honors and pursued postgraduate biomedical research at institutions including the National Institutes of Health (NIH), New York University (NYU), Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU), and Stanford, publishing peer-reviewed papers in journals such as *Stem Cells*, *Head & Neck*, *Developmental Cell*, *Metabolism*, and *The Laryngoscope*.[1] Means began a four-year residency in otolaryngology–head and neck surgery at OHSU but resigned in late 2018, criticizing the U.S. healthcare system's focus on "sick care" rather than root-cause prevention of chronic diseases.[1][2] Licensed in Oregon in 2018 (now inactive), she opened a private functional medicine practice, Means Health, in early 2019.[1] As a venture-backed entrepreneur, she co-founded Levels, a metabolic health company studying glucose patterns in non-diabetics to combat preventable disease; she served as its Chief Medical Officer until late 2023.[1][3] Her book *Good Energy*, co-authored and released in 2024, became a #1 New York Times bestseller with over 1 million copies sold, promoting systems-thinking approaches to health via lifestyle and metabolic optimization.[1][2] Means has built a large following as a wellness influencer, emphasizing food, environmental, and policy reforms to address chronic illness epidemics.[2] In a major recent development, President Donald J. Trump nominated her as U.S. Surgeon General, aligning with his "Make America Healthy Again" (MAHA) initiative alongside Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.[2] If confirmed, she would serve as the nation's top public health spokesperson. Means has faced criticism for vaccine skepticism, including claims about childhood vaccine schedules contributing to health declines in children.[2] (Word count: 298)
Bill Cassidy
Bill Cassidy is an American physician and Republican politician serving as the senior U.S. Senator from Louisiana since 2015.[1][3][4] Born on September 28, 1957, in Baton Rouge, he earned his undergraduate and medical degrees from Louisiana State University (LSU), later teaching at LSU Medical School and working at a hospital for the uninsured.[3][5] Before entering politics, Cassidy co-founded the Greater Baton Rouge Community Clinic to provide free care to the working uninsured and led a private-public partnership vaccinating 36,000 local children against Hepatitis B at no cost.[3][5] After Hurricane Katrina, he organized volunteers to convert an abandoned K-Mart into an emergency healthcare facility for evacuees.[3] His career shifted to public service in 2006 with election to the Louisiana State Senate, followed by victory in 2008 for Louisiana's 6th Congressional District in the U.S. House, defeating incumbent Democrat Don Cazayoux.[1][3][4] In the House (2009-2015), Cassidy opposed the Affordable Care Act, advocated for earmark transparency, and introduced bills like the Gulf Coast Jobs Preservation Act to end deepwater drilling moratoriums.[1][4] He won a Senate seat in 2014 by defeating incumbent Mary Landrieu in a runoff, ending 138 years of Democratic Senate representation from Louisiana, and was reelected in 2020.[1][3] As senator, Cassidy chairs the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee since 2025—the first physician to do so since 1933—after serving as Ranking Member in 2023; he also sits on Finance, Energy and Natural Resources, and Veterans' Affairs committees.[3][4] Key achievements include lowering healthcare costs, mental health reform, coastal restoration, and sportsmen's legislation like the Red Snapper Management Improvement Act.[2][3] Married to retired surgeon Dr. Laura Cassidy, they have three children and one grandchild.[3] (298 words)
Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is an American politician, environmental lawyer, and author, born on January 17, 1954, in Washington, D.C. He is the third of eleven children of Robert F. Kennedy, the U.S. Attorney General, and Ethel Skakel Kennedy. His family's political legacy includes his uncle, President John F. Kennedy. Kennedy's early life was marked by personal struggles, including drug addiction, which led to his arrest for heroin possession in 1983. However, he later redirected his life towards environmental advocacy and public service. Kennedy graduated from Harvard University in 1976 with a degree in American history and literature and later earned a law degree from the University of Virginia in 1981. He began his career as an assistant district attorney in Manhattan but soon shifted his focus to environmental law. In 1987, he received a master's degree in environmental law from Pace University, where he taught environmental law from 1986 to 2018 and co-founded the Environmental Litigation Clinic. Notably, Kennedy is the founder of the Waterkeeper Alliance, a global clean water advocacy group, and Children's Health Defense, which focuses on childhood chronic diseases and environmental exposures. He has been recognized for his environmental activism, including being named TIME Magazine's "Hero for the Planet" for his efforts in restoring the Hudson River. Kennedy has also been involved in high-profile legal cases against companies like DuPont and Monsanto. In recent years, he has been a vocal figure in vaccine skepticism and public health controversies. In the 2024 U.S. presidential election, Kennedy initially ran as an independent candidate before endorsing Donald Trump. Currently, his involvement in public life includes controversial stances on health and environmental issues. Despite these controversies, his work in environmental law and advocacy has had significant impacts on public health and environmental protection.
About the Organizations Mentioned
Senate HELP Committee
# The Senate HELP Committee: Shaping America's Health, Education, and Labor Policy The United States Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) stands as one of Congress's most influential committees, wielding significant authority over policies affecting millions of Americans across multiple sectors.[1][4] This 23-member committee, currently chaired by Bill Cassidy (R-LA) with Bernie Sanders (I-VT) as Ranking Member, comprises 12 Republicans and 11 Democrats.[4] ## Historical Evolution Originally established on January 28, 1869, as the Committee on Education, the panel has undergone substantial transformation.[3] It became the Committee on Education and Labor in 1870 when labor jurisdiction was added from the Committee on Naval Affairs.[3] The modern "HELP" designation officially adopted in 1999 reflects the committee's expanded scope under then-Chairman James Jeffords.[4] ## Core Responsibilities The HELP Committee maintains jurisdiction over critical federal agencies including the Food and Drug Administration, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and National Institutes of Health.[1][2] Its responsibilities span four major domains: health policy, education and workforce development, labor standards and employment law, and private pension plans.[2] In health matters, the committee oversees public health programs and medical regulations.[1] On education, it addresses higher education funding, student loans, and workforce development initiatives.[5] The labor portfolio encompasses workplace safety, wage regulations, union-management relations, and employment discrimination enforcement.[2] Additionally, the committee manages private retirement plans and railroad retirement programs through the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974.[2] ## Current Impact Today, the HELP Committee continues addressing pressing contemporary issues, from maternal mortality prevention to workforce preparation for 21st-century challenges.[5][9] Its subcommittees
Make America Healthy Again
```html <!DOCTYPE html> <html lang="en"> <head> <meta charset="UTF-8"> <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0"> <title>Make America Healthy Again: Revolutionizing Public Health</title> <style> body { font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 1.6; max-width: 800px; margin: 0 auto; padding: 20px; } h1 { color: #2c5aa0; } h2 { color: #333; } p { margin-bottom: 1em; } </style> </head> <body> <h1>Make America Healthy Again: A Bold Push Against Chronic Disease</h1> <p><strong>Make America Healthy Again (MAHA)</strong> is a populist political movement and federal initiative led by Robert F. Kennedy Jr., U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services in the second Trump administration. Echoing Trump's "Make America Great Again," MAHA targets America's chronic illness epidemic through healthier lifestyles, corporate accountability, and scrutiny of vaccines, food, and pharma industries[1][8].</p> <h2>Origins and Rise</h2> <p>MAHA surged after Kennedy suspended his 2024 independent presidential bid and endorsed Trump. In February 2025, President Trump issued Executive Order 14212, creating the <strong>MAHA Commission</strong> chaired by Kennedy to probe childhood diseases, obesity meds, and mental health[1][3]. The Commission's May 2025 report blamed poor diet, chemicals, inactivity, stress, and overmedicalization, questioning vaccines and fluoridation[1][5].</p> <h2>Key Initiatives and Wins</h2> <p>USDA advanced farmer-focuse
Levels
```html <!DOCTYPE html> <html lang="en"> <head> <meta charset="UTF-8"> <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0"> <title>Levels: Revolutionizing Metabolic Health with Tech and Data</title> <style> body { font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 1.6; max-width: 800px; margin: 0 auto; padding: 20px; } h1 { color: #333; } h2 { color: #555; } p { margin-bottom: 1em; } </style> </head> <body> <h1>Levels: Revolutionizing Metabolic Health with Tech and Data</h1> <p><strong>Levels</strong> is a pioneering health tech company empowering individuals to optimize their metabolic health through continuous glucose monitoring (CGM), comprehensive blood testing, AI-driven food logging, habit tracking, and personalized guidance—all integrated into a user-friendly app.[1][2]</p> <h2>Founding and History</h2> <p>Founded in June 2019 by Josh Clemente (ex-SpaceX), alongside Casey Means (Stanford MD), Sam Corcos, David Flinner (Google), and Andrew Conner (Google), Levels emerged from Clemente's "lightbulb moment" to democratize CGM data beyond diabetics. Initially envisioning a "Garmin of CGM," the team pivoted to an intuitive app providing actionable insights on diet and lifestyle impacts.[3][2]</p> <h2>Key Achievements and Funding</h2> <p>Levels quickly gained traction, raising a seed round from Andreessen Horowitz (a16z) in 2021, followed by a landmark $38M Series A in April 2022 at
Function Health
```html <!DOCTYPE html> <html lang="en"> <head> <meta charset="UTF-8"> <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0"> <title>Function Health: Revolutionizing Preventive Wellness</title> <style> body { font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 1.6; max-width: 800px; margin: 0 auto; padding: 20px; } h1 { color: #333; } h2 { color: #555; } p { margin-bottom: 1em; } </style> </head> <body> <h1>Function Health: Pioneering Preventive Health Through Data</h1> <p>Function Health, a trailblazing healthcare technology company based in Austin, Texas, empowers individuals to achieve lifelong wellness with comprehensive, direct-to-consumer testing.[1][2] Founded in 2021 by Mark Hyman, Pranitha Patil, Mike Nemke, Seth Weisfeld, and the Swerdlin brothers, the platform bridges consumers and labs like Quest Diagnostics for over 100 blood and urine tests (21 urine markers), AI-driven insights, personalized nutrition/supplement guides, and optional MRI/CT scans—all for a membership starting at $499/year (or $42/month).[1][4]</p> <h2>From Startup to Unicorn Status</h2> <p>Launched amid rising disillusionment with traditional healthcare, Function Health exploded in growth. By 2023, it processed over three million lab tests. In 2024, membership hit 100,000 with a 200,000-person waitlist, amassing a million data points from early users.[1] The company's mission—"live 100 healthy years"—resonates through emotional marketing and founder stories, like H
