• Posted April 1, 2026

Trump Supports Surgeon General Pick Despite Senate Concerns

The White House is standing behind its pick for surgeon general, even as questions about her nomination continue.

President Donald Trump nominated Dr. Casey Means, but her confirmation has stalled after a tense U.S. Senate hearing earlier this year.

In a statement on Monday, press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the administration supports Means and encouraged the Senate to move forward, The Washington Post reported.

“Dr. Casey Means has spent her entire career as an entrepreneur, bestselling author and researcher bringing attention to America’s chronic disease epidemic and how our health care system is failing the American people,” the statement said. 

“The President stands by her and the Senate should move to quickly [confirm] Dr. Means as our next surgeon general without further delay,” it added.

At her February confirmation hearing, some Republican senators raised concerns about Means’ views on vaccines, her medical background and her criticism of the health care system.

Means has strong ties to the "Make America Healthy Again" (MAHA) movement, which focuses on chronic disease, food policy and more.

She is the co-author of the book "Good Energy," written with her brother, Calley Means, a White House health adviser.

Her medical license, which she placed on inactive status in Oregon, also drew attention during the hearing.

During the hearing, Means pushed back on concerns about her views, The Post said.

"Anti-vaccine rhetoric has never been a part of my message," she said.

She added that vaccines save lives and that patients should talk with their doctors about their care.

"This is not a part of my core message. I am not here to complicate the issue on vaccines," Means said.

Still, her nomination has been caught up in debates over vaccines tied to Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has recently pivoted from controversial vaccine topics to focus his messaging on issues like food and drug prices.

Means’ nomination is seen as a test of how much influence the "MAHA" movement really has.

It’s not clear whether her nomination will move forward. 

More information

The National Institutes of Health has more on the surgeon general.

SOURCE: The Washington Post, March 30, 2026