Surgeon General pick Casey Means grilled over shrooms and MAHA products

Means faced tough questions from senators over conflicts of interest and her stance on vaccines during lively confirmation hearing

Published on Feb. 25, 2026

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Dr. Casey Means, President Trump's pick for Surgeon General, faced a grilling from senators over concerns about her conflicts of interest, her promotion of psilocybin, and her stance on vaccines during her confirmation hearing. Means, who co-authored a book promoting the 'Make America Healthy Again' agenda, argued her goal is to address the root causes of disease, but lawmakers pressed her on issues like failing to properly disclose financial ties to wellness products she promoted.

Why it matters

The Surgeon General is the nation's top doctor and chief federal spokesperson on public health matters, so Means' unorthodox views and potential conflicts of interest have raised concerns among lawmakers about her fitness for the role.

The details

During the Senate HELP Committee hearing, Means faced tough questions from lawmakers on both sides of the aisle. Sen. Susan Collins grilled her over urging readers to consider psilocybin-assisted therapy in her book, while Sen. Chris Murphy accused her of failing to properly disclose financial ties to wellness products she promoted. Means defended herself, saying she has worked to be fully compliant. Committee Chairman Bill Cassidy also raised concerns about her position on vaccines, though Means sought to reassure him that she does not intend to undermine vaccine policy.

  • Means' confirmation hearing was originally scheduled for October 2025 but was delayed after she went into labor.
  • The Senate HELP Committee hearing took place on Wednesday, February 25, 2026.

The players

Casey Means

President Trump's pick to fill the role of Surgeon General, which has been empty for over a year. Means is a Stanford-trained surgeon who has been a critic of the medical establishment and has argued the U.S. needs to focus more on functional medicine.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

The Health and Human Services Secretary, whose 'Make America Healthy Again' agenda Means has endorsed.

Calley Means

Casey Means' husband, who is a senior advisor in the Department of Health and Human Services.

Bill Cassidy

The Republican chairman of the Senate HELP Committee, who is a gastroenterologist and has raised concerns about Means' position on vaccines.

Chris Murphy

The Democratic senator from Connecticut who grilled Means over accusations that she failed to properly disclose financial ties to wellness products she promoted.

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What they’re saying

“My vision for Surgeon General, and for the future of America, is to get more healthy, whole food on Americans' plates and work to systematically encourage our health care system to focus on the root causes of why we are sick, and not just reactive sick care.”

— Casey Means

“I am concerned that in your book on 'Good Energy' that you urge readers to consider psilocybin-assisted therapy. You also said that you were inspired to try psychedelics, 'In what I can only describe as an internal voice that whispered, 'It's time to prepare.''”

— Susan Collins, Senator

“I'm happy to look at whatever documentation you're talking about, but you're incorrect. This is a false representation. I spent the last several months working with the Office of Federal Ethics to be fully compliant.”

— Casey Means

“I want to just back up and broadly just reassure you that this is not an issue that I intend to complicate or bring an agenda on vaccines.”

— Casey Means

“I do accept that evidence. I also think that science is never settled, and I think that the effort to look at comprehensive, cumulative exposures of our exposure into what is causing autism is important, and I look forward to seeing those results.”

— Casey Means

What’s next

The Senate HELP Committee must first approve Means' nomination before it can move to a full Senate vote for confirmation.

The takeaway

Means' nomination as Surgeon General has faced intense scrutiny over her unorthodox views, potential conflicts of interest, and stance on issues like vaccines. Her confirmation hearing highlighted the challenges she may face in gaining approval for the role as the nation's top doctor and public health spokesperson.