Why Casey Means’ surgeon general nomination is in limbo
Dr.
Casey Means takes her seat at the start of a Senate Health, Education Labor and Pension Committee confirmation hearing for U.S.
Surgeon General on Capitol Hill Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Tom Brenner) 2026-03-25T11:39:39Z NEW YORK (AP) — Wellness influencer Dr.
Casey Means’ nomination to be U.S. surgeon general is stalled a month after senators of both major political parties grilled her on vaccines and other health topics during a tense confirmation hearing, deepening doubts about her ability to secure the votes she needs for the role.
The nomination has languished despite ongoing efforts from the White House and Make America Healthy Again activists, revealing how intractable rifts over health policy can be even when Congress has shown deference to President Donald Trump .
It’s become the latest snag in Health Secretary Robert F.
Kennedy Jr.’s agenda after two legal setbacks last week.
Means, a 38-year-old Stanford-educated physician who became disillusioned with traditional medicine and did not finish her surgical residency program, has faced scrutiny for her lack of experience and potential conflicts.
Another sticking point has been her close alignment with Kennedy, whose efforts to dramatically pull back vaccine recommendations have been slammed by lawmakers and medical groups.
To advance to a full Senate vote, Means likely needs every Republican on the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee to support her nomination.
But after last month’s hearing, two of them — Sens.
Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Susan Collins of Maine — told reporters they still had questions for her.
Murkowski told reporters Tuesday that “I’m just in the same spot” when it comes to those hesitations.
Collins and Republican committee chairman Sen.
Bill Cassidy , a physician from Louisiana who interrogated Means about vaccines during the hearing, didn’t respond to multiple inquiries about the delay.
White House spokesman Kush Desai said in a statement that the Trump administration has been having “productive conversations with the Senate” to advance Means.
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 reinforced the Republican administration’s support for Means and praised her message calling for healthier lifestyle choices rather than “
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