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Helena
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Casey Means pledges focus on food as first MAHA surgeon general
President Donald Trump‘s nominee to serve as surgeon general, Casey Means, a physician and wellness influencer who’s been extremely critical of the American medical system, sailed through her first step toward confirmation this week.
In a more than two hour hearing before the Senate HELP Committee this week, Means was grilled on vaccines, conflicts of interest and her qualifications for the role, but she emerged relatively unscathed and appears likely (though not guaranteed) to be confirmed by the Senate.
Heat on vaccines: Democrats repeatedly tried to pin Means down on her position on vaccination, which is understandable because as the “nation’s doctor” she’ll be a major communicator on public health issues. She has been critical of some vaccines in the past — particularly the Hepatitis B birth dose — but in the hearing she tried to stay above the issue.
“I believe vaccines save lives,” Means said several times during the hearing. “I believe that vaccines are a key part of any infectious disease public health strategy.” At other points, she declined to promise she’d specifically recommend the measles vaccine or flu shots for children. She said she’d support CDC guidance.
“Anti-vaccine rhetoric has never been a part of my message,” Means said. “I don’t mention the word vaccine in my book. This is not a part of my core message. I am not here to complicate the message on vaccines.”
Conflicts of interest: Democrats also sharply questioned Means’ history of potential financial conflicts of interest, having made hundreds of thousands of dollars from promoting supplements, tests and food products through her sizable online platforms. Public Citizen recently published a report raising concerns about financial conflicts with some MAHA leaders, including Means and her brother Calley Means, a senior White House advisor. During the hearing, some lawmakers pointed out that Means had not always disclosed financial ties on social media, which FTC rules require (a policy that is largely not enforced).
Democrats were definitely not satisfied with Means’ answers, and they really do not like that she’s not a currently practicing physician (she has a medical license but it’s inactive). They’re very concerned that she doesn’t adhere to the current medical consensus on vaccines … but it’s not clear that any of this is enough to stop her nomination.
Whether Means clears the Senate will likely come down to two key votes on the Senate HELP Committee — Sens. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) and Susan Collins (R-Maine) who told Politico this week they haven’t yet decided how they will vote. Committee chairman Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) did not comment on his vote when asked about it.
“Winning the approval of the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee is almost certainly a prerequisite for confirmation,” per Politico. “The panel is split between 12 Republicans and 11 Democrats, so any one Republican could sink Means’ chances if Democrats, as expected, vote against. The Republican-controlled Senate has turned back very few of Trump’s nominees.”
Subversive pick: The fact that Means is outside of the medical system — and a sharp critic of the status quo — is precisely why she was picked. She’s a MAHA mom — the hearing paused partway through so she could care for her baby — who may be given a significant PR role in this administration. If she’s confirmed, it will be a massive win for the “Make America Healthy Again” movement.
Food focus: Aside from the criticism from Democrats, the thing that stood out to me during the hearing this week is how much Means talked about food — and how much she would talk about food if confirmed. The surgeon general doesn’t often get too involved in these issues — there are some historical exceptions, but I can’t remember ever covering a surgeon general confirmation hearing before.
Means would be coming into the role with a clear message on food: She sees ultra-processed foods and environmental toxins as driving the chronic disease crisis. She didn’t shy away from this in the hearing, even though some of her ideas are considered radical.
“I think you’ll be frustrated by how much I’ll be talking about ultra-processed foods,” Means told Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) during the hearing. “Good!” Sanders replied. He noted he agreed with her on many of her food ideas, but disagreed on other issues, including vaccines and also the Trump administration’s steep cuts to health care coverage.
“About 65 to 70 percent of the calories that our children are eating are ultra processed, franken-foods made in factories that are so disconnected from their origin source and nutritional value that, you know, we’re putting just nutritionally devoid food in our children,” Means said. “And then we wonder why we have an obesity crisis in children and why chronic diseases are rising as early as toddler years.”
“My vision in this role is to get more whole, healthy foods on Americans’ plates,” she added.
“You are right. That’s right,” Sanders said. The senator was also pleased when Means said she supported banning junk food ads off TV (though she noted she wouldn’t have purview over this, she could still advocate for it as surgeon general).
Soft power: The surgeon general isn’t a policy position, but it’s a position of persuasion. Past surgeon generals have used their platforms to help the country slash smoking rates, to reduce stigma associated with AIDS, to discuss loneliness and mental health. It comes with mostly soft power, but if Means is confirmed I think we can expect that power will focus in large part on food.
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What I’m reading
USDA to offload HQ building as it prepares to consolidate space and relocate staff (GovExec). “The Agriculture Department on Wednesday announced it has taken preliminary steps to clear its employees from one of its headquarters buildings in Washington as it plans to shift thousands of them into new locations by the end of the year,” reports Eric Katz. “The General Services Administration, which manages the federal government’s real estate, will spearhead that process, USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins told reporters. The department announced the disposal of the South Building, which Rollins and other officials repeatedly described as dilapidated and mostly empty, last year as part of a larger reorganization that will push 2,600 employees out of the national capital region. Officials said the move is expected to save the government $1.6 billion in delinquent maintenance on the 90-year-old building. Rollins and GSA Administrator Ed Forst did not fully commit to a sale of the South Building, which comprises two city blocks and is situated just south of the National Mall, saying instead they would undertake a deliberate process to consult with stakeholders and the private sector. Such a move could result in the building being sold to the highest bidder or repurposed by another government tenant.
Majority of Americans say government is not protecting them from toxic chemicals (CNN). “More than 70% of American adults are very or somewhat concerned about exposure to toxic chemicals in their food and drinking water, according to a new survey by the Pew Charitable Trusts,” reports Sandee LaMotte. “Public concern is so intense that 5 out of 6 adults in the United States said they wanted the federal government and industry to do more to protect them. Up to 84% of the more than 5,000 adults in the survey said the federal government ‘needs to do more to identify and regulate harmful chemicals found in everyday products.’ These strong beliefs crossed age and party lines. Between 81% and 86% of all ages and nearly 80% of Republicans, 88% of Democrats, and 90% of people who declined to identify a political affiliation thought government wasn’t doing enough about chemical safety.”
Removing unhealthy foods from SNAP—a MAHA strategy to take seriously (JAMA Network). “While the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) strategy has attracted some strong criticisms from the medical community, its focus on addressing unhealthy, ultraprocessed foods (UPFs) is well founded,” write Benjamin W. Chrisinger and Laura A. Schmidt. “Numerous studies have linked diets high in sugar-sweetened beverages and other unhealthy UPFs to obesity, diabetes, cancers, and cardiovascular diseases. Because low-income US residents disproportionately experience poor diet quality and diet-related chronic diseases, the idea of restricting unhealthy foods from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is gaining traction. This month, 18 states will begin restricting sugar-sweetened beverages and other UPFs from SNAP under waivers from the US Department of Agriculture (USDA). These states and SNAP-accepting retailers will coordinate to exclude restricted items through point-of-sale checkout systems. All states must evaluate their SNAP restriction initiatives, although the evaluations will vary widely.”
Zohran Mamdani promised city-owned groceries. Atlanta already has one (Bon Appétit). “Zohran Mamdani, the new mayor of New York City, soared to victory last year on a handful of ambitious promises. Among them was a pledge to open a city-owned grocery store in every borough to address the twin problems of food deserts and rising grocery prices,” writes Bryce Covert. “His idea hasn’t yet evolved into an actual plan. Atlanta beat him: Last summer the city opened Azalea Fresh Market in the city’s downtown neighborhood, a municipal grocery store backed by city funding. The store is operated by Savi Provisions, a private company, and stocks the full range of products found in other grocery stores. Through supplier deals with the help of the Independent Grocers Alliance and higher profits from things like prepared food, the store prices items closer to cost. The store also accepts SNAP and WIC benefits. Mamdani may opt for a different approach in New York City. In early 2025, he said he was planning to redirect the $140 million the city spends on tax breaks and incentives for private grocery stores instead toward city-owned properties that wouldn’t charge stores any rent or property taxes. The city would buy products at wholesale prices and use centralized warehousing to keep costs low to ‘ensure every New Yorker can afford the groceries that they need,’ he said.”
‘Meatheads Are Hijacking America’: Vegans feel betrayed by RFK Jr.’s beef boosting (CNN). “The day after Robert F. Kennedy Jr., was sworn in as secretary of Health and Human Services on a self-described mission to ‘Make America Healthy Again,’ the vegan podcast host and animal rights activist Bob Linden posted a missive in several vegan Facebook groups, declaring it a ‘beginning’ and an ‘opportunity.’ ‘[A]s Vegans, we need to make sure that we have a place at the table to Make America Healthy “Again”(?)’ he wrote in February 2025,” writes Scottie Andrew. “A year later, Kennedy has made ‘real food’ a pillar of his Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) framework. But his new nutrition guidelines and inverted food pyramid place a much stronger emphasis on red meat, whole milk and other animal products than previous government-issued nutritional suggestions. ‘I feel like it’s a betrayal,’ Linden said in January. ‘I believe these new dietary restrictions are anti-American.’ Linden said he defines the MAHA acronym differently now: ‘Meatheads are hijacking America.’”
Candy and soda makers prepare to ‘play offense’ on SNAP restrictions (Food Dive). “As more states begin to restrict shoppers from using food assistance benefits for candy and soda, food and beverage companies are bracing themselves for a sales hit,” reports Sarah Zimmerman. “So far, 18 states have received approval from the Trump administration to ban purchases of certain foods and drinks using the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. Bans largely target soft drinks and other ‘sweetened beverages,’ though some states have also moved to restrict candy or prepared desserts. As more restrictions become enacted, candy and soda manufacturers are closely monitoring the impact. They’re also still trying to understand how the bans are being implemented by retailers — the definition of candy and soda can vary between states, adding even more confusion to the rollout.”
EPA repeals power plant regulations that reduce mercury in fish (Civil Eats). “The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) last week repealed a 2024 rule that put stricter limits on mercury emissions from coal-fired power plants, the primary source of the mercury that accumulates in fish and leads to human health risks,” Lisa Held reports. “In a press release, EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin said that an earlier version of the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards (MATS), finalized in 2012, was now back in effect, replacing the Biden administration rule. The earlier version of the MATS was already effective at reducing mercury emissions, Zeldin said, and the Biden administration’s tighter standards were burdensome for the coal industry. But experts say the decision will halt progress being made to reduce exposure to methylmercury, the harmful form of mercury that is classified by the EPA as a possible human carcinogen. Gabriel Filippelli, a biogeochemist at Indiana University who studies mercury, said that close to 100 percent of the mercury that accumulates in the fish Americans eat comes from coal-fired power plants.”
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