Casey Means’ Nomination for Surgeon General Is Scorched by RFK Jr.’s VP

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The nomination of Casey Means to be U.S. Surgeon General has received blistering criticism from RFK Jr.’s VP, Nicole Shanahan.Means’s lack of an active medical license is also falling under scrutiny. According to Newsweek, her medical license in Oregon has not been active since 2019. Axios described Means as a “wellness influencer.”However, Newsweek also noted that U.S. Surgeons General are not required to have an active medical license. Still, Shanahan made it clear she was extremely unhappy with the pick.Shanahan unloaded on her X page on May 7, 2025, after the announcement, alleging, in part, “Yes, it’s very strange. Doesn’t make any sense. I was promised that if I supported RFK Jr. in his Senate confirmation that neither of these siblings would be working under HHS or in an appointment (and that people much more qualified would be). I don’t know if RFK very clearly lied to me, or what is going on. It has been clear in recent conversations that he is reporting to someone regularly who is controlling his decisions…”Means was nominated after the previous pick, Dr. Janette Nesheiwat, a contributor to Fox News, withdrew her nomination, according to NPR.According to NPR, “Means has catapulted into the MAHA sphere over the past year, alongside her brother Calley Means,” who advises Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the Secretary of Health and Human Services.They authored a book called Good Energy and oppose “the influence of the pharmaceutical and food industries in their many appearances on podcasts and other platforms,” NPR reported.According to The Associated Press, Casey Means lacks experience in government and “dropped out of her surgical residency program, saying she became disillusioned with traditional medicine.” She “founded a health tech company, Levels, that helps users track blood sugar and other metrics,” AP reported and profits “from dietary supplements, creams, teas and other products sponsored on her social media accounts.” Related: Male Dietary Supplement Sold on Amazon Is Recalled for Disturbing Reason