Health Care

Casey Means’s brother says ‘conversations happening’ in surgeon general confirmation process

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by Sophie Brams - 04/09/26 9:37 PM ET

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by Sophie Brams - 04/09/26 9:37 PM ET

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Senior White House adviser Calley Means said on Thursday that “conversations are ongoing” amid doubts over whether his sister, surgeon general nominee Casey Means, has enough votes in the Senate for confirmation.

Calley Means was asked during an appearance on NewsNation’s “The Hill” whether the White House still expected Casey Means to be the next surgeon general after President Trump recently indicated he was open to withdrawing her nomination.

“We do expect it here at the White House,” he told host Blake Burman. “Casey is one of the smartest and most eloquent doctors in the country, and at this moment, we don’t need a doctor who is a defender of the status quo.”

Casey Means’s confirmation has been stalled since she was nominated in May of last year, and the prospect of any movement seemed more fraught following a tense Senate committee hearing in February.

Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.), chair of the Senate Health Committee, has yet to schedule a vote on her nomination, and even then, her path is unclear. She would likely need unanimous support from Republicans to advance, and at least two — Sens. Lisa Murkowski (Alaska) and Susan Collins (Maine) — have been hesitant to back her.

Calley Means dismissed any notion on Thursday that his sister lacked the votes to move forward.

“I would not say that is the case,” he said. “I think these conversations are ongoing.”

He suggested that the surgeon general nominee had been “character assassinated” in the media but argued that senators are “understanding that.”

“Senators are understanding that it is vital in this moment for the country to have a surgeon general that’s going to be critically thinking and talking about the root cause of chronic disease,” Calley Means added. “And, there’s conversations happening.”

Casey Means drew criticism for sidestepping a direct endorsement of the measles vaccine during her confirmation hearing, telling senators that vaccinations “save lives” and were a critical part of public health strategy, but stopping short of widely encouraging parents to have their children vaccinated against certain illnesses.

She later clarified that she believes people should get the measles shot, echoing the stance of Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Director Dr. Mehmet Oz.

The surgeon general nominee has also faced pushback over her qualifications for the role.

A licensed physician has historically filled the position. Casey Means does not fall under that category because she graduated from medical school but did not complete her residency.

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