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Surgeon General Nominee Casey Means Faces Senate Grilling Vaccines Conflicts Interest

Donald Trump

Kamala Harris

Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

Cornel West

Jill Stein

J.D. Vance

Chase Oliver

Tim Walz

"We need a universal healthcare system that is equitable, comprehensive, free at point of service, and accessible to every single person in the US."

"We need national, improved Medicare for All."

"We spend more on health care than any country on Earth, twice what they pay in Europe, and yet we have the worst health outcomes of any nation in the world."

"Health care is a basic human right."

Access to health care should be a right — not just a privilege for those who can afford it.

"I don't want to terminate Obamacare, I want to REPLACE IT with MUCH BETTER HEALTHCARE. Obamacare Sucks!!!"

"We want to make sure everybody is covered, but the best way to do that is to actually promote more choice in our health care system."

"We must lower the regulatory burden on the pharmaceutical industry."

Where Do Candidates Stand on Health Care?

Bill Cassidy

Mehmet Oz

Jay Bhattacharya

Michael Osterholm

Jim O'Neill

Jason M. Goldman

Jesse L. Goodman

Kevin A. Ault

IDSA

Diana DeGette

Caitlin Rivers

Andrew Racine

Robert Goldstein

WLBT3

West Coast Health Alliance

Sean O'Leary

UC Berkeley School of Public Health

Marty Makary

"This decision protects children, respects families, and rebuilds trust in public health."

"This [2026] decision recommits HHS to all three [transparency, rigorous science, and respect for families]."

"This decision commits NIH, CDC, and FDA to gold standard science, greater transparency, and ongoing reassessment as new data emerge."

"No family will lose access.This [2026] framework empowers parents and physicians to make individualized decisions based on risk, while maintaining strong protection against serious disease."

"The data support a more focused schedule that protects children from the most serious infectious diseases while improving clarity, adherence, and public confidence."

“I think that a reduced schedule is going to endanger children and lay the groundwork for a resurgence in preventable disease.”

“Changing the pediatric vaccine schedule based on no scientific input on safety risks and little transparency will cause unnecessary fear for patients and doctors, and will make America sicker.”

"This wildly irresponsible decision will put lives at risk."

“There will be more diseases, more infection, more hospitalizations.”

Will Secretary Kennedy's U.S. Childhood Vaccine Schedule Overhaul Risk Public Health?

Dr. Casey Means testified before the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee on February 25, 2026, for her confirmation hearing as surgeon general nominee. The hearing had been postponed from October after Means went into labor hours before she was scheduled to appear.

Dr. Casey Means testified before the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee on February 25, 2026, for her confirmation hearing as surgeon general nominee. The hearing had been postponed from October after Means went into labor hours before she was scheduled to appear.

Means graduated from Stanford University School of Medicine in 2014 but left her surgical residency program at Oregon Health and Science University in 2018 without completing it. Her medical license became inactive in January 2024, and she has never practiced medicine.

Means graduated from Stanford University School of Medicine in 2014 but left her surgical residency program at Oregon Health and Science University in 2018 without completing it. Her medical license became inactive in January 2024, and she has never practiced medicine.

During the hearing, Means stated she supports vaccines and believes they save lives, but declined to directly encourage parents to vaccinate their children against measles and flu. She emphasized that patients should have informed consent conversations with their doctors before any medication.

During the hearing, Means stated she supports vaccines and believes they save lives, but declined to directly encourage parents to vaccinate their children against measles and flu. She emphasized that patients should have informed consent conversations with their doctors before any medication.

Senators questioned Means about financial disclosures showing she made at least $325,000 promoting supplements and wellness products since early 2024. She faced scrutiny over potential conflicts of interest and allegations of not properly disclosing financial relationships with companies she promoted.

Senators questioned Means about financial disclosures showing she made at least $325,000 promoting supplements and wellness products since early 2024. She faced scrutiny over potential conflicts of interest and allegations of not properly disclosing financial relationships with companies she promoted.

Means co-founded Levels, a health tracking company focused on continuous glucose monitoring, and pledged to resign from the company and divest stock options if confirmed. Her brother Calley Means serves as a senior adviser to the Department of Health and Human Services.

Means co-founded Levels, a health tracking company focused on continuous glucose monitoring, and pledged to resign from the company and divest stock options if confirmed. Her brother Calley Means serves as a senior adviser to the Department of Health and Human Services.

The nominee told senators she believes oral contraceptives should be widely accessible but raised concerns about side effects and informed consent. She also addressed questions about her past use of psychedelic mushrooms, stating her views as a private citizen differ from what she would communicate as a public health official.

The nominee told senators she believes oral contraceptives should be widely accessible but raised concerns about side effects and informed consent. She also addressed questions about her past use of psychedelic mushrooms, stating her views as a private citizen differ from what she would communicate as a public health official.

Surgeon General Nominee Faces Senate Confirmation Hearing

Surgeon General Nominee Faces Senate Confirmation Hearing

The Controversies

Stein

West

Jr.

Walz

Harris

Trump

Vance

Oliver

Jr.

Makary

Bhattacharya

Oz

O'Neill

Rivers

Cassidy

Goodman

Articles on this story

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Surgeon General Nominee Faces Senate Confirmation Hearing

Surgeon General Nominee Faces Senate Confirmation Hearing

The Controversies

Stein

West

Jr.

Walz

Harris

Trump

Vance

Oliver

Jr.

Makary

Bhattacharya

Oz

O'Neill

Rivers

Cassidy

Goodman

Articles on this story

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