On February 25, 2026, Casey Means, a wellness influencer lacking an active medical license, appeared before the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee for her confirmation hearing as Donald Trump’s nominee for U.S. Surgeon General. Throughout the two-hour session, Means failed to endorse measles or flu vaccinations to parents and did not dismiss the debunked vaccine-autism link, despite existing scientific consensus. The hearing occurred during a national measles outbreak, with over 982 confirmed cases and criticism of the ongoing attacks on public health by Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Democratic senators posed tough questions but could not halt Means’ nomination, which represents a significant failure in public health policy. When pressed by Sen. Bill Cassidy, Means acknowledged scientific evidence against the vaccine-autism hypothesis but maintained an anti-science stance suggesting that “science is never settled.” This aligns with anti-vaccine rhetoric and displays a pattern of evasion regarding vaccination recommendations.
Additionally, Means has a contentious history regarding reproductive health, labeling hormonal birth control as harmful, and maintained in her testimony that anti-vaccine rhetoric was not part of her message, despite evidence to the contrary. Her background includes a degree from Stanford and a career as an influencer, with allegations of failing to disclose financial ties in product promotions.
Means’ nomination is part of a broader crisis in U.S. public health, marked by systemic attacks on health agencies since Kennedy took office, including significant cuts to the CDC budget and the vaccine schedule. With rising measles cases, the lack of a solid public health strategy poses dire consequences. While Democratic opposition exists, it is largely seen as performative and ineffective, as both parties have historically neglected public health in favor of corporate interests. The need for a serious response to the public health crisis is emphasized, merging the defense of science with the fight for socialism, aimed at mobilizing the working class against both major political parties.
