— Departure comes as leading voices in the MAHA movement have expressed discontent
October 23, 2026 • 3 min read
Calley Meansopens in a new tab or window, a top advisor to Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and a chief advocate for the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) movementopens in a new tab or window, resigned from his position with the Trump administration Thursday.
In a statement, Means did not say why he was leaving. His departure comes as leading voices in the MAHA movement have expressed discontent with what they say is the Trump administration's lack of progress on a variety of issues, including food security and regulating the weed killer glyphosateopens in a new tab or window (Roundup).
Means said he "leaves with tremendous respect" for President Donald Trump and Kennedy.
"The past 2 years have seen historic policy and cultural change to confront the chronic disease crisis and healthcare incentives that profit from us being sick," Means said. "This movement is in the first inning and just getting started."
Means was hired as a White House advisor early in the second Trump administration. He used his perch at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to attackopens in a new tab or window the nation's leading physician groups, federal agenciesopens in a new tab or window, and government scientistsopens in a new tab or window, claiming they only protect their own interestsopens in a new tab or window.
White House spokeswoman Allison Schuster said the Trump administration is "grateful" for Means' time and "he has done a fantastic job for the MAHA movement." A representative from HHS did not respond to a request for comment.
Health activist Kelly Ryerson, a leader of American Regeneration who is also known as Glyphosate Girl on social media, said she is "impressed that he completed over 2 years at HHS fighting the food battle, despite all of the obstacles presented by corporate interests."
"At the heart of MAHA is a shared belief that the nation's health must not be sacrificed to corporate profit, and that a preventable slide into chronic disease is a threat to America itself," she said.
Means is the brother of wellness influencer, author, and entrepreneur Casey Means, MDopens in a new tab or window, who failed to be confirmed as surgeon generalopens in a new tab or window earlier this year after doubts were raised over her vaccine stance.
Means, along with his sister, came to prominence within the MAHA movement by arguing that ultraprocessed foods, additives, and pesticides could be blamed for many of the chronic health conditions facing Americans.
Means brought those arguments into the Trump administration and frequently clashed with senior White House officials who worried about alienating the powerful food industry.
At the same time, Means' emphasis on food was a source of frustration for other figures within the MAHA movement who wanted to see Kennedy focus on "medical freedom" issues. For many, that meant rolling back federal recommendations and approvals for vaccines.
Despite Means' efforts, the administration's progress on food reforms has been slow going.
Kennedy had promised the release of a first-ever government definition of ultraprocessed food in April. Instead, FDA's acting commissioner, Kyle Diamantas, told a conference that month that defining the class "is really hard."
In August, Kennedy staffers again suggested a major announcement on the issue was imminent. Instead, the announcementopens in a new tab or window focused on a proposal bringing greater scrutiny to food additives. It made only passing mention of ultraprocessed foods.
Zen Honeycutt, founder of Moms Across America, said Means will be missed by her organization, which operates local and national campaigns warning against pollution, water use, and electricity costs associated with data center construction.
Honeycutt said Means "brought an energy and fearlessness to the Hill, fighting for our children to have healthy food in schools and for America's health."