Hearing for Surgeon General Nominee Casey Means Postponed as She Goes Into Labor

Dr. Casey Means, President Donald Trump’s choice to become the next U.S. surgeon general, will not appear before the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) as planned on Thursday, according to committee staff and individuals familiar with the process. The session, set for 11 a.m. Eastern Time, was delayed after officials learned that the nominee had gone into labor.

The unexpected postponement interrupts what was expected to be a contentious hearing. Democratic members of the panel had prepared detailed questions about Means’s past business activities, specifically her role as co-founder of Levels Health Inc., a wellness technology company. Committee documents indicate that Democrats intended to scrutinize the income she earned from the firm and her public promotion of nutritional supplements on podcasts and social media.

Means, who left a surgical residency in Oregon in 2018 shortly before completion, has become an influential voice in the “Make America Healthy Again” movement. She has emphasized lifestyle interventions and criticized what she characterizes as excessive reliance on pharmaceutical treatments. In ethics filings submitted to the Senate, she pledged to resign from Levels Health and to cease commercial product endorsements if confirmed to the nation’s top public-health post.

Despite that commitment, several Democratic senators signaled their interest in determining whether her prior financial relationships could affect future policy decisions. A letter sent earlier this week by Sen. Andy Kim of New Jersey, a freshman Democrat on the HELP Committee, and Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, who is not a committee member, urged Means to outline circumstances under which she would recuse herself from matters that could benefit former business partners. The correspondence argues that recent earnings from wellness companies could create the appearance of a conflict of interest.

Staff briefings before the postponed hearing added further tension. Individuals who attended a closed-door meeting on Monday say Means responded guardedly when Democratic aides pressed her on potential recusals. According to those present, she contrasted the scrutiny she now faces with the confirmation process for current Surgeon General Vivek Murthy, noting that his consulting work for a cruise-line operator during the COVID-19 pandemic drew limited Senate attention in 2021.

Republican members of the HELP Committee have voiced confidence in the nominee. Committee Chair Sen. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, a gastroenterologist, said through a spokesman that he anticipates a substantive discussion focused on transparency and public trust once the hearing is rescheduled. Sen. Tommy Tuberville of Alabama similarly praised Means’s clinical knowledge, adding that a fresh perspective could help address long-standing concerns about nutrition, vaccination policy, and preventive care.

Reactions within the Democratic caucus remain mixed. Sen. Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin expressed reservations, telling reporters that her staff found Means insufficiently responsive during preparatory meetings. A person familiar with Baldwin’s views said the senator questions whether the nominee would place scientific consensus above political considerations and personal finances. By contrast, Sen. John Hickenlooper of Colorado described his own conversation with Means as constructive and said he looks forward to hearing her formal testimony.

Imagem: Internet

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) rejected characterizations that the nominee resisted committee inquiries. HHS spokeswoman Emily Hilliard said Means, 40 weeks pregnant at the time of the Monday meeting, answered all questions thoroughly and continues to engage with senators of both parties. Hilliard added that Means remains focused on advancing the administration’s public-health agenda.

If confirmed, Means would oversee the Office of the Surgeon General and serve as the leading spokesperson on matters of public health. The office has historically addressed issues ranging from tobacco use to opioid addiction, and its recommendations often influence federal, state, and local policies. Additional background on the office’s statutory responsibilities is available on the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services website.

Senate aides indicated that rescheduling the confirmation hearing will depend on the nominee’s recovery and the chamber’s legislative calendar. No alternative date has been announced. Until the hearing occurs, debate over Means’s corporate ties and approach to preventive medicine is likely to continue among lawmakers, advocacy organizations, and medical professionals.

Crédito da imagem: Ben Curtis / AP