Politics · United States · 3 hrs ago
Calley Means resigns as a senior health adviser to Robert F. Kennedy Jr
Calley Means has resigned from his senior advisory role at the US Department of Health and Human Services.
He advised Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and was a prominent figure in the Make America Healthy Again movement, known as MAHA.
Means did not give a reason for leaving, but his departure comes amid frustration among some MAHA supporters over the administration’s limited progress on food policy and other issues.
Means pushed for action on ultraprocessed foods, additives and pesticides, arguing they contribute to chronic illness.
The administration has made little progress on defining ultraprocessed food, despite earlier suggestions that an announcement was coming.
MAHA supporters differ over which health issues should come first: some focus on food and pesticides, while others want Kennedy to prioritize vaccine-related “medical freedom” issues.
The White House praised Means’s work, but no next step for his role was announced.
Calley Means resigned as a senior adviser to Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. in the Trump administration.
Means said he was leaving with respect for President Donald Trump and Kennedy but did not give a reason in his statement.
A person familiar with the decision told NBC News that Means was frustrated by limited progress on his MAHA goals, especially a federal definition of ultraprocessed food.
The resignation comes amid discontent among some Make America Healthy Again supporters over the administration’s progress on food and environmental issues.
Means was a prominent advocate for food reforms, while some other MAHA figures wanted greater focus on “medical freedom” issues.
- Who
- Calley Means, a senior adviser to Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
- What
- He resigned from the Trump administration.
- When
- Thursday, October 22, 2026.
- Where
- The White House and the Department of Health and Human Services.
- Why
- Means did not state a reason. A person familiar with his decision told NBC News he was frustrated by limited progress on his MAHA goals.
Food-focused MAHA advocates, including Calley Means
MAHA figures focused on “medical freedom
Policy priorities
Food-focused MAHA advocates, including Calley Means
Means and other food-focused advocates sought action on ultraprocessed foods, pesticides and additives.
MAHA figures focused on “medical freedom
They wanted greater focus on “medical freedom,” including rolling back federal vaccine recommendations and approvals.
Means joined the White House as an adviser.
The Supreme Court ruled that Bayer did not need to warn consumers about a potential cancer risk associated with Roundup, according to NBC News.
The administration announced a proposal for greater scrutiny of food additives, but made only passing mention of ultraprocessed foods, according to AP.
Means resigned from the Trump administration.
- Position
- Senior adviser to Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
- Movement
- Make America Healthy Again (MAHA)
- Company
- Truemed, a wellness company Means founded
- Resignation date
- October 22, 2026
- White House response
- Spokesperson Allison Schuster said the administration was grateful for Means’ time.
3 sources
What people are saying
The past two years have seen historic policy and cultural change to confront the chronic disease crisis and healthcare incentives that profit from us being sick.
I am resigning from the White House with tremendous respect for President Trump and RFK — two historic figures who are committed to confronting a corrupt DC bureaucracy that is doing everything possible to protect the status quo
he has done a fantastic job for the MAHA movement.
Posts on X
I am resigning from the White House with tremendous respect for President Trump and Bobby Kennedy. They laid out a vision of combatting the entrenched, dark forces in DC that profit from Americans getting sick. More policy and cultural change has happened around these goals