Overview
- The Senate HELP Committee confirmed the postponement and has not announced a new date for the confirmation hearing, which would have been held remotely due to Means’ late‑term pregnancy.
- President Trump nominated Means in May on Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s recommendation, positioning her to advance the administration’s Make America Healthy Again agenda if confirmed.
- Democratic senators prepared to question Means over her wellness‑industry earnings and ties, including her co‑founder role at Levels, though her ethics filings pledge resignation, divestiture, and an end to monetized promotions if she takes office.
- Questions about qualifications are central, as Means did not complete a surgical residency and her medical license is inactive, drawing criticism from former Surgeon General Jerome Adams and other public health experts.
- If confirmed, she would oversee roughly 6,000 U.S. Public Health Service officers and issue national health advisories, while her past statements on vaccines and hormonal birth control are expected to draw scrutiny.