MAHA’s political power tested as surgeon general pick stalls

 https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2026/03/23/casey-means-surgeon-general-nomination-stalled-maha/

Casey Means faces pushback from some Republicans over her refusal to forcefully recommend vaccines.

The nascent Make America Healthy Again movement got one of its biggest wins last spring: Casey Means was selected to be the nation’s top doctor.

But more than 10 months later, the controversial surgeon general pick has yet to assume the position advising Americans on how to improve their health. Her nomination has stalled as some Republicans question her stance on vaccines, her medical credentials and her pushes against the medical establishment.

While she honed her message on the importance of healthy food — talking points that Kennedy has tried to amp up as the midterms approach — she is getting tangled in his prior controversial stances on vaccines and other aspects of the MAHA movement, which has tried to galvanize supporters to call on reticent senators.