Trump Surgeon General Pick’s Confirmation Hearing Delayed After Surprising Development

AP Photo/Ben Curtis, File

The Senate’s confirmation hearing for President Donald Trump’s surgeon general nominee, Casey Means, was abruptly postponed Thursday morning, the day it was set to begin, after she went into labor.

A committee spokesperson confirmed that Means, who was reportedly set to appear virtually before the Senate Health Committee, would not be able to attend, and the hearing would be rescheduled.

The hearing had been expected to spark a fierce debate over Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s “Make America Healthy Again” movement, which has divided both medical experts and political camps.

Trump nominated Means in May after withdrawing his previous pick, Janette Nesheiwat.

Means, a Stanford-trained physician who left her residency to focus on chronic disease prevention, has drawn sharp attention for her wellness-focused brand and her skepticism toward vaccines. She has built a large online following as a nutrition influencer, advocating what she calls a “root-cause” approach to health.