Dr. Casey Means' Surgeon General Nomination Stalls Amid GOP Doubts
The nomination of wellness influencer Dr. Casey Means to serve as U.S. surgeon general has stalled, deepening doubts about her ability to secure the necessary votes for confirmation. This delay, now extending for nearly a month since a contentious Senate hearing, highlights persistent divisions over health policy within Congress, even as lawmakers have shown deference to President Donald Trump's administration.
Republican Hesitations and Committee Hurdles
To advance to a full Senate vote, Dr. Means likely requires unanimous support from every Republican on the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee. However, following last month's hearing, two key Republican senators – Alaska's Lisa Murkowski and Maine's Susan Collins – indicated they still have unanswered questions about her nomination.
Senator Murkowski stated this week that she remains in "the same spot" regarding her hesitations, while Senator Collins and Republican committee chairman Senator Bill Cassidy, a Louisiana physician who questioned Dr. Means extensively on vaccines during the hearing, have not responded to inquiries about the delay. Senator Cassidy's medical background has made him particularly scrutinizing of Dr. Means' positions on vaccination protocols.
Controversial Background and Policy Alignment
Dr. Means, a 38-year-old Stanford-educated physician, became disillusioned with traditional medicine and did not complete her surgical residency. She has faced significant scrutiny over her limited clinical experience and potential conflicts of interest. Her close alignment with Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., whose push to significantly reduce vaccine recommendations has drawn criticism from lawmakers and medical groups, represents another substantial hurdle to confirmation.
During her confirmation hearing, senators questioned her approach to public communication regarding vaccines. Senators Murkowski and Cassidy pressed Dr. Means on her past skepticism about the birth dose of the hepatitis B vaccine. While Dr. Means acknowledged the vaccine's importance, she stressed parental decision-making with doctors rather than endorsing blanket recommendations.
Activist Campaigns and Opposition Voices
As Senators Murkowski and Collins appeared undecided, "Make America Healthy Again" (MAHA) activists launched a campaign to support Dr. Means' bid, urging supporters to inundate the senators with phone calls. "Please call both of them. Call them time after time. Get your friends to call them," instructed Tony Lyons, head of the Kennedy-aligned group MAHA Action.
Conversely, others have vocally opposed Dr. Means' nomination. Dr. Jerome Adams, who served as Surgeon General during President Trump's first term, has repeatedly deemed her unqualified due to her inactive medical license. He noted that Republicans in Congress and the Trump administration privately disapprove of the choice but view it as Secretary Kennedy's prerogative.
Unusually Protracted Confirmation Process
Dr. Means' confirmation delay is unusually protracted. At nearly 300 days since her nomination in May, her process has taken almost twice as long as the average presidential pick in President Trump's second term. Data from the nonprofit Partnership for Public Service indicates that the average time between nomination and confirmation for Trump's nominees was 157 days within the first 400 days.
Chris Piper, manager of public policy and stakeholder engagement at the Partnership for Public Service, noted that the length of time since her rescheduled hearing is atypical. "A monthlong delay following a hearing is atypical for most nominations, particularly at this level of position," Piper concluded.
White House Support and Future Prospects
White House spokesman Kush Desai affirmed the Trump administration is engaged in "productive conversations with the Senate" to advance Dr. Means' nomination. He added that her "elite academic credentials, research background and advocacy on America's chronic disease epidemic will make her a critical asset for President Trump's push to Make America Healthy Again."
Kennedy spokesman Andrew Nixon reiterated the Republican administration's backing for Dr. Means, praising her message advocating for healthier lifestyle choices over what he termed "sick care." However, even if Dr. Means clears the committee, securing confirmation by the full 100-member Senate remains challenging. Republican Senator Thom Tillis of North Carolina, who is not seeking re-election, told The Associated Press he is leaning against voting for her, citing concerns about her resume and hearing performance.
