Calley Means, a highly influential figure advising Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and the brother of President Trump’s chosen nominee for surgeon general, quietly concluded his special government employee term at the White House approximately one month ago. Means confirmed his departure in a recent interview.
Over the past six months, Means served as the health secretary’s primary aide, playing a crucial role in orchestrating a significant presidential commission report. This report highlighted what it characterized as the critical condition of children’s health. During this period, Means frequently engaged in public debates, both on television and online, with vaccine scientists and medical professionals who raised concerns about Kennedy’s controversial efforts to reform American medicine.
His tenure also attracted scrutiny from Democratic members of Congress, who voiced concerns over the potential financial benefits Means could reap from proposed alterations to the healthcare system. These changes are a central tenet of the ‘Make America Healthy Again’ movement, strongly supported by the Trump administration.
Means is a co-founder of Truemed, a wellness company that facilitates the purchase of high-value health-related items, such as Peloton bikes and expensive saunas, using funds exempt from federal income taxes. This business model positioned Truemed to potentially benefit significantly from Trump administration initiatives aimed at expanding access to tax-advantaged health spending accounts.
Despite his departure, the White House never issued an official announcement regarding his exit. In the weeks following his federal service, various news outlets continued to identify Means as both a White House adviser and a close aide to Kennedy. During this time, he remained a vocal critic, publicly condemning hospitals, insurance providers, and pharmaceutical firms, accusing them of profiting from increased patient illness.
Furthermore, his speaker biography for a recent health industry conference, where he made an appearance just last week, still stated that he was a ‘special government employee to the White House on MAHA strategy.’
Means, whose appointment began in March, clarified that reports indicating his continued employment with the White House were incorrect and that his public biography was outdated. He stated that his remarks at the conference were confined to general topics.
As a special government employee, Means’s term was strictly limited to 130 days. Democratic congressional members previously suggested his term should have concluded around late July. Means explained that he took leave earlier in the year, and his official departure from the White House occurred approximately a month ago, upon the natural expiration of his term.
The Trump administration is poised to welcome another member of the Means family to influence health policy. With robust support from Kennedy, Means’s sister, Dr. Casey Means, received President Trump’s nomination for Surgeon General in May.
Dr. Means, who, alongside her brother, emerged as a prominent advocate for the MAHA movement last year following their co-authored book on perceived shortcomings in American medicine, was scheduled to testify before a Senate health committee for her confirmation hearing.
However, her hearing was unexpectedly postponed after Dr. Means went into labor shortly beforehand, as she was due to give birth this week.
Similar to her brother, Dr. Means found success within the rapidly expanding wellness industry, often criticizing mainstream medicine. She has argued that conventional medical practices trap patients in a cycle of ineffective treatments that neglect the root causes of their ailments.
She co-founded Levels, a company specializing in continuous glucose monitors. Unlike their traditional use for individuals with diabetes, Levels markets these devices to customers seeking to optimize their diet and stabilize blood sugar. The company offers annual packages, including glucose monitoring, lab tests, and health coaching, with costs reaching up to $1,499.
According to government disclosures made last month, Dr. Means committed to resigning from her advisory position at Levels and divesting her stock. She also indicated her intention to cease her activities as an influencer, stepping back from promoting dietary supplements and other wellness products.