Trump's Surgeon General Nominee Faces Backlash Over Past Statements

Critics question Casey Means' qualifications and past comments on chronic medications

Published on Feb. 26, 2026

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President Trump's nominee for Surgeon General, Casey Means, is facing scrutiny over past statements she has made about chronic medications and the pharmaceutical industry. Means, who has a background in functional medicine, has made comments suggesting that some chronic medications are used to create "recurring revenue" for pharmaceutical companies, raising concerns about her understanding of public health issues.

Why it matters

The Surgeon General is a key public health official responsible for advising the President and the public on important medical and scientific matters. Concerns have been raised about Means' qualifications and her past statements, which some view as promoting misinformation about the healthcare industry.

The details

Means, who runs a functional medicine practice, has made comments suggesting that the birth control pill was the "first chronic medication" and that pharmaceutical companies aim to "put people on a medication for life" to create "recurring revenue". These statements have drawn criticism from medical professionals who say they demonstrate a lack of understanding about the role of chronic medications in public health.

  • In May 2025, Means made the comments about chronic medications and the pharmaceutical industry in a video that surfaced online.
  • Means was nominated by President Trump to serve as Surgeon General in February 2026.

The players

Casey Means

Trump's nominee for Surgeon General, who runs a functional medicine practice and has made controversial statements about chronic medications.

James D. Haddad, MD, FACP

A medical professional who has criticized Means' qualifications and understanding of public health issues.

Aaron Reichlin-Melnick

An immigration policy analyst who has commented on the case of Nurul Shah Alam, a Rohingya refugee who died after being abandoned by Border Patrol.

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What they’re saying

“I'm no biostats whiz, but don't we expect a Surgeon General to understand that correlation does not equal causation?”

— James D. Haddad, MD, FACP, Medical Professional (Twitter)

“A truly AWFUL situation; last week Border Patrol dropped a 'nearly blind' Burmese refugee off in front of a random donut shop in Buffalo, five miles from his house. He was just found dead, having never made it home.”

— Aaron Reichlin-Melnick, Immigration Policy Analyst (Twitter)

What’s next

The Senate will hold confirmation hearings to further examine Means' qualifications and past statements before deciding whether to approve her nomination as Surgeon General.

The takeaway

The nomination of Casey Means as Surgeon General has raised serious concerns about her understanding of public health issues and her past statements promoting misinformation about the healthcare industry. Her confirmation will face intense scrutiny as the Senate evaluates her fitness for this important role.