Calley Means, who advised Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., stepped down from the Trump administration Thursday, less than two weeks before the midterm elections. Means announced the decision on X without stating why he was leaving.
“I am resigning from the White House with tremendous respect for President Trump and Bobby Kennedy,” Means wrote.
Role in MAHA agenda
Means worked with Make America Healthy Again supporters on federal nutrition policy, research involving psychedelic medicine, proposals affecting soda purchases through SNAP and changes to food-ingredient regulation.
He also helped bring Kennedy and President Donald Trump together during the 2024 campaign. Means appeared at a news conference on April 22, 2025.
During the administration, officials moved forward with revised dietary guidelines, a voluntary effort involving certain petroleum-derived food dyes and an executive order backing psychedelic medicine research.
Deferred food-policy plans
Several food-policy proposals had not moved ahead, including a federal definition for ultraprocessed foods and plans for school meals with reduced added sugar and increased protein. A scheduled discussion on the ultraprocessed-food definition was postponed.
The Wall Street Journal and Politico reported that Means had grown dissatisfied with slower progress on the administration’s food agenda and viewed special interests as having excessive sway. An administration official characterized the delayed meeting as the point that prompted his departure.
Means co-authored “Good Energy” with his sister, Casey Means. Casey Means was nominated as surgeon general but did not receive sufficient support for Senate confirmation.