Fri May 09 16:10:00 UTC 2025: ## Trump’s Surgeon General Nominee Faces Uphill Battle Amidst Controversy

**Washington, D.C.** – President Trump’s latest pick for Surgeon General, Dr. Casey Means, is facing significant opposition even before her Senate confirmation hearings. Means, who holds undergraduate and medical degrees from Stanford University, boasts a prominent presence in the wellness community, authored the book “Good Energy,” and has appeared on numerous podcasts. However, her Oregon medical license is currently inactive, raising serious concerns about her qualifications.

This inactivity is a key point of contention among critics, including former Surgeon General Dr. Richard Carmona, who stated that the position historically requires an active license, residency completion, and demonstrable leadership experience – none of which are presently evident in Means’s profile. Legal experts also raise questions about Means’s eligibility, citing the mandatory requirement for Commissioned Corps officers of the U.S. Public Health Service to maintain active licensure.

Further complicating matters is significant pushback from within the “Make America Healthy Again” (MAHA) movement, a group advocating for healthcare reform. While championed by HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (whose brother is Means’s brother, Calley Means, an HHS advisor), key figures within MAHA, including Kennedy’s former running mate, Nicole Shanahan, have publicly expressed their disapproval. Criticism centers on Means’s perceived lack of outspoken opposition to vaccines and concerns about a perceived lack of transparency about her qualifications.

The controversy has even prompted Kennedy to publicly defend Means, attributing the backlash to attacks from the very industries MAHA aims to reform. This internal conflict within MAHA underscores the deep divisions surrounding Means’s nomination.

Means’s nomination follows the withdrawal of Dr. Janette Nesheiwat, Trump’s previous pick, who faced scrutiny over her medical credentials and perceived insufficient criticism of vaccines. The challenges faced by Means echo those encountered by previous nominees, highlighting the increasingly complex political landscape surrounding public health appointments. Whether Means can overcome these obstacles and secure Senate confirmation remains uncertain.

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