Washington D.C. – President Donald Trump’s controversial nominee for Surgeon General, Dr. Casey Means, endured a rigorous confirmation hearing before lawmakers on Wednesday, facing intense bipartisan interrogation over her unconventional health views, ethical commitments, and professional qualifications.
The 38-year-old Stanford-educated physician, who leads the ‘Make America Healthy Again’ movement aligned with Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., found herself defending her lack of an active medical license and her history as a health influencer promoting dietary supplements and teas. Democratic Senator Chris Murphy of Connecticut presented evidence alleging dozens of Federal Trade Commission violations, claiming Means failed to disclose compensation received while promoting corporate products. Means vehemently denied these allegations, calling the documentation ‘incorrect’ and a ‘false representation.’
The hearing’s most contentious moments centered on vaccine policy. Means repeatedly declined to commit to advocating universal immunization against diseases like measles and Hepatitis B, instead emphasizing individual medical autonomy. ‘I believe each patient, mother, parent, needs to have a conversation with their pediatrician,’ she stated, while acknowledging vaccines ‘save lives’ and are key to public health strategy.
Regarding Hepatitis B vaccinations specifically, Means described them as ‘life-saving’ but controversiallly asserted they weren’t necessary for all newborns—contradicting American Association of Pediatrics guidelines recommending administration within 24 hours of birth.
When questioned about vaccines and autism, Means acknowledged scientific evidence shows no link but notably added ‘science is never settled,’ while describing the autism crisis as ‘devastating’ to families. Her comments aligned with recent CDC guidance updates under Secretary Kennedy that now state a connection cannot be ruled out, contrary to established medical consensus.
The nominee also addressed past controversial statements about contraceptive pills, which she had previously called ‘a disrespect of life’ and claimed Americans use ‘like candy.’ During the hearing, she affirmed support for accessibility of both contraceptives and mifepristone (the abortion pill) while emphasizing their potential ‘horrifying’ side effects for certain women.
Means confirmed she had been fully cleared by the Office of Government Ethics and committed to divesting from her business interests if confirmed. The committee is expected to vote on her nomination soon, with the outcome determining whether she will lead the 6,000-person U.S. Public Health Service.