Senate should reject Trump’s pick for Surgeon General

The Surgeon General is the nation’s chief health communicator, educating the public about the best available science and issuing authoritative public health advisories. 

Dr. Casey Means has built a career by promoting dietary supplements to her online following. She has often promoted them as alternatives to evidence-based care, a disturbing conflict of interest for an individual poised to provide authoritative advice to 350 million people. Moreover, in apparent violation of Federal Trade Commission guidelines, Dr. Means has frequently not disclosed the sources of her funding in the posts and has advanced simplistic solutions to complicated problems related to diet and chronic disease. Means is not a credible source of information on scientific evidence for public health policies and guidance. Her nomination places the health of the American people at risk.

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., has voiced concerns about conflicts of interest and industry capture of regulatory agencies. Yet, the administration is nominating a Surgeon General with significant personal and financial ties to the $63 billion-dollar supplement industry as well as the device industry.

Dr. Means can divest her financial conflicts or recuse herself from any dealings that might bias her decision making. However, her unscientific views that promote wellness industry interests are unlikely to vanish after divestment.  

Means has frequently used her public platform to spread misinformation. If confirmed, we expect her to promote falsehoods about vaccines and other essential health topics, which will ultimately harm our health, not improve it. These include recommending against birth control pills, arguing in favor of raw milk, and blaming vaccines for causing autism. None of these claims is supported by valid scientific evidence.  

Dr. Means is deeply unqualified to provide health advice to Americans. Surgeon Generals of the past have often had stellar academic or public health credentials. Nominating someone who has not even finished her residency, like Dr. Means, would have been unthinkable.  

The Senate has a constitutional responsibility to reject Dr. Means’ nomination.