Casey Means, Surgeon General Nominee, Sidesteps Questions on Glyphosate Order
President Donald Trump's nominee for surgeon general, casey means, faced pointed questioning at a confirmation hearing on Wednesday over the administration's recent executive order promoting more domestic production of glyphosate, an ingredient in weedkiller. The exchange highlighted tensions between Means's past public statements and the policy direction signaled by the executive action.
Ed Markey presses Means on cancer claims and family health
Sen. Ed Markey, D-Mass., asked Means whether her past comments that glyphosate causes cancer square with the Trump executive order and whether she believes the order harms the health of families. Markey pressed her to reconcile previously stated concerns about the chemical with the administration's push for increased domestic production. "I understand that, Doctor. I'm just trying to help you to agree with yourself. You've already said it in the past, but Trump is contradicting you, " Markey said during the confirmation hearing.
Casey Means's past statements, MAHA ties and public profile
Means, who is a wellness influencer and author, has publicly said that glyphosate causes cancer. She is a supporter of the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) movement, which largely opposes pesticides in food production, and is an ally of Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. In remarks at the hearing, Means said, "We must as a country move away from using toxic inputs in our food supply and we must study these chemicals more to understand their effects. I am very gravely concerned about the health impacts of these chemicals. "
EPA position and the administration's executive order on glyphosate
The executive order being questioned promotes more domestic production of glyphosate, an ingredient in weedkiller. The Environmental Protection Agency says there is "no evidence glyphosate causes cancer in humans. " Markey noted friction between the MAHA movement and the executive order, saying, "The MAHA movement is not happy with the Trump executive order. That's the reality. "
Means vows MAHA strategy will prioritize consumers and sustainable farming
Means told senators that the MAHA strategy is "going to make sure American consumers are protected, and that we are entering an era where we are going to prioritize helping farmers move to more sustainable farming practices. I think those are all good things. I think it's extremely important, both for our planet and our health, and I'm going to be a champion on that issue. " The nominee also appeared in a separate clip in which she said health problems reflect a nation with a "broken heart" and a "society losing its mind. "
The exchange and these lines of questioning were covered by Wyatte Grantham-Philips.
