Opinion - I was surgeon general — Trump's nominee is not fit for my old job
Americans deserve a surgeon general with the highest level of expertise and a proven record in public health — not a symbolic figurehead or media influencer.
President Trump's current nominee, Dr. Casey Means, holds a medical degree from a respected institution, but her professional qualifications raise significant concerns. She is not board certified, does not hold an active state medical license, never completed a medical residency and lacks substantial experience in clinical practice, public health, policy and scalable leadership.
By law, the surgeon general must be a commissioned officer with significant training or experience in public health. Historically, this has meant licensed physicians with deep clinical, scientific and operational credentials — individuals who have led through complex crises and earned the trust of both the public and the uniformed services. To lower that bar is to undermine the office.
The U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps is one of eight uniformed services in our nation. It is charged with protecting the health and safety of all Americans. The surgeon general serves as its operational and symbolic leader. That person must be capable of directing public health efforts across agencies, advising Congress on critical issues and working alongside military and civilian leaders on matters of national importance.
Public health crises are rarely simple. From pandemics to natural disasters, bioterrorism to chronic disease, the person occupying this office must be fully prepared to lead under pressure.
Leadership in the Public Health Service must remain merit-based and above politics. Appointing a nominee who lacks the credentials expected of even entry-level officers in the corps threatens the credibility of this proud institution.
During my tenure as surgeon general, I was tasked with responding to a range of complex emergencies: coordinating U.S. efforts after the 2004 tsunami in Southeast Asia, leading public health operations during Hurricane Katrina and participating in the rollout of the Human Genome Project. I was frequently called on to address urgent public health issues, including vaccine policy, abortion access, pharmaceutical ethics and combat casualty care.
Each of these responsibilities required deep clinical expertise, global collaboration, operational leadership and a commitment to scientific integrity. These were not ceremonial roles — they were real-time, high-stakes leadership demands.
Public health is a national security imperative. We must treat it that way.
History teaches us that the most impactful surgeons general have been those who brought courage, competence and scientific clarity to the nation's most difficult conversations. Dr. C. Everett Koop took a stand against tobacco and led a science-driven national education effort on AIDS. Dr. David Satcher confronted addiction and health disparities at a time of political polarization. They didn't just hold office — they led with authority earned through decades of experience.
This legacy should not be diminished by placing symbolism or politics above readiness and expertise. The surgeon general is not just an advisor but a field-tested leader who must command respect, coordinate with other uniformed services and represent the nation on the global public health stage.
We owe it to the American people — and to those who built the Public Health Service on a tradition of merit and mission — to demand the very best.
The U.S. Public Health Service traces its roots to the birth of our nation, when President John Adams signed legislation in 1798 to care for sick and injured seamen. Since then, the service has remained a meritocracy grounded in competence and readiness — like all our uniformed services.
Our health, our security and our future depend on it.
Richard H. Carmona, M.D., M.P.H., F.A.C.S., was the 17th U.S. surgeon general. He is Laureate Professor of Public Health at the University of Arizona.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CBS News
15 minutes ago
- CBS News
Vance says Musk's attacks on Trump were a "huge mistake" but tries to downplay spat
Vice President JD Vance said Elon Musk was making a "huge mistake" going after President Trump in a storm of bitter and inflammatory social media posts after a falling out between the two men. But the vice president, in an interview released Friday after the very public blow-up between the world's richest man and arguably the world's most powerful, also tried to downplay Musk's blistering attacks as an "emotional guy" who got frustrated. Musk attacked Mr. Trump in a torrent of social media posts, first criticizing the president's spending package and then targeting him with more direct attacks. Mr. Trump then portrayed Musk as disgruntled and "CRAZY" and threatened to cut the government contracts held by Musk's businesses. Trump ally Steve Bannon called for an investigation into Musk's immigration status and alleged drug use. During an interview with comedian Theo Von, Vance said he hopes that "eventually Elon comes back into the fold," but said it might not be "possible now because he's gone so nuclear." The interview was taped on Thursday as Musk's posts were unfurling on X, the social media network the billionaire owns. "Look, it happens to everybody," Vance said in the interview. "I've flown off the handle way worse than Elon Musk did in the last 24 hours." Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance attend a campaign event, Oct. 5, 2024, in Butler, Pa. Alex Brandon / AP The vice president told Von that as Musk for days was calling on social media for Congress to kill Mr. Trump's "Big Beautiful Bill," the president was "getting a little frustrated, feeling like some of the criticisms were unfair coming from Elon, but I think has been very restrained because the president doesn't think that he needs to be in a blood feud with Elon Musk." "I actually think if Elon chilled out a little bit, everything would be fine," he added. Vance's comments come as other Republicans in recent days have urged the two men to mend fences. Just weeks ago, Mr. Trump and Musk were close allies, spending significant time together while the billionaire served as a special advisor to the president and led the "Department of Government Efficiency," or DOGE. Vance called Musk an "incredible entrepreneur," and said that DOGE, which sought to cut government spending and laid off or pushed out thousands of workers, was "really good." Vance defends Trump against Epstein allegations Musk, who runs electric vehicle maker Tesla, internet company Starlink and rocket company SpaceX, also claimed without evidence that the government was concealing information about the president's association with infamous pedophile Jeffrey Epstein. During the interview, Von showed the vice president Musk's claim that the Trump administration hasn't released all the records related to sex abuser Epstein because Mr. Trump is mentioned in them. Vance responded to that, saying, "Absolutely not. Donald Trump didn't do anything wrong with Jeffrey Epstein." Mr. Trump's name has been found in court documents related to Epstein's case, but his appearance in the documents is not evidence of wrongdoing. CBS News has previously covered Mr. Trump's presence in those documents. In February, the Department of Justice gave a group of right-wing influencers binders labeled "The Epstein Files: Phase 1," but the influencers later said that there was little new information in the files. Attorney General Pam Bondi later shared the documents widely and said the first phase "largely contains documents that have been previously leaked but never released in a formal capacity by the U.S. Government." She said more documents would be forthcoming, but there have been no other releases since. Musk appeared by Saturday morning to have deleted his posts about Epstein. "The president is doing a good job" Musk also shared a post calling for Mr. Trump to be impeached and replaced with Vance. He also called for the formation of a new political party. The vice president said comments like those were "just not helpful." "It's totally insane. The president is doing a good job," Vance told Von. The vice president also defended the bill that has drawn Musk's ire, and said its central goal was not to cut spending but to extend the 2017 tax cuts approved in Trump's first term. The bill would slash spending but also leave some 10.9 million more people without health insurance and spike deficits by $2.4 trillion over the decade, according to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office. Musk has warned that the bill will increase the federal deficit and called it a "disgusting abomination." Elon Musk and Vice President JD Vance listen as President Donald Trump speaks at a campaign rally, Oct. 5, 2024, in Butler, Pa. Evan Vucci / AP "It's a good bill," Vance said. "It's not a perfect bill." Vance also said it was ridiculous for some House Republicans who voted for the bill but later found parts objectionable to claim they hadn't had time to read it. The vice president said the text of the bill had been available for weeks. "The idea that people haven't had an opportunity to actually read it is ridiculous," Vance said.
Miami Herald
17 minutes ago
- Miami Herald
Veteran fund manager resets stock market forecast amid Musk, Trump fallout
Put two mercurial personalities in the room, add competing goals and a hefty dose of media pressure, and what do you get? Let's just say that the high-profile friend-to-foe saga isn't overly surprising. Elon Musk and Donald Trump are polarizing figures with a penchant for dropping verbal bombshells, and that was particularly evident this week as the two sparred over the Big Beautiful bill, electric vehicle credits, and debt. The rift may shock some, however, given how closely Musk and Trump worked together over the past year. Don't miss the move: Subscribe to TheStreet's free daily newsletter Musk spent hundreds of millions helping elect Donald Trump as president, and Trump rewarded Musk with a high-profile role in his administration as the head of the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE. Trump even went so far as to host a Tesla showroom on the White House lawn to support Musk after Musk's political activism caused a drop in Tesla's sales. One person who wasn't the least bit surprised by the high-profile dust-up was veteran hedge fund manager Doug Kass. Back in December, Kass picked the break-up as one of his top 15 surprises for 2025. It was far from the only correct forecast for Kass. He also predicted a stock market reckoning could cause the S&P 500 to fall 15%, and in April, he accurately forecast that stocks would find their footing after the brutal sell-off. Kass recently revisited his take on Musk and Trump, and how stocks may react to their fallout. His S&P 500 outlook may disappoint many, while his take on Trump and Musk might surprise most. After back-to-back 20% gains in the S&P 500 in 2023 and 2024, including an impressive 24% return last year, investors may have complacently expected more good times in 2025. Then reality set in. The stock market has whipsawed amid a series of shocks, many delivered by President Trump and Elon Musk, via his high-profile and much-debated cost-cutting at DOGE. Related: Elon Musk latest message sends Tesla stock surging Stocks came into 2025 arguably priced to perfection. Optimism for a friendly Federal Reserve shift in monetary policy to dovish interest rate cuts and a flood of artificial intelligence spending fueled big returns last year, pushing the S&P 500's price-to-earnings ratio north of 22. Historically, returns following high P/E ratios have been largely lackluster. That point wasn't lost on Kass, who correctly said in December that the S&P 500 could drop 15% in 2025. "Surprise #9: In 2025, the S&P Index falls by about 15%. The technology-laden Nasdaq drops by over 20%," wrote Kass. Kass beat the bearish drum continuously through February, when the S&P 500 reversed after hitting all-time highs. From mid-February through early April, bombshells in the form of shockingly high tariff announcements from President Trump and job losses stemming from Musk's DOGE efforts caused the benchmark index to plummet. At its worst, the S&P 500 fell 19%, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq fell about 24%. The sharp drop was painful, and many hit the sell button, worried that an endless stream of uncertainty would cause even greater losses. Kass, however, correctly reversed course, making bargain-basement buys on the indexes and tech leaders, including Amazon, near the lows. Since then, Trump's pause on tariffs and potential for trade deals that ease the tariffs' bite have helped fuel a dramatic recovery, lifting the S&P 500 by 20%. More Economic Analysis: Hedge-fund manager sees U.S. becoming GreeceA critical industry is slamming the economyReports may show whether the economy is toughing out the tariffs The result has been a nausea-inspiring roller coaster ride for buy-and-hold investors. That's been particularly true for Tesla (TSLA) shareholders. The EV company rallied after Trump's election amid hope that Musk's White House connections would pave the way to sales growth. Instead, Musk's DOGE efforts, and arguably controversial political comments, caused a mass exodus of left-leaning Tesla buyers. Sales cratered in key markets, including Europe and California, the largest U.S. auto market. In Europe, Tesla sales dropped 49% year-over-year in April to 7,261 vehicles, according to the European Automobile Manufacturers' Association. In California, Tesla registrations fell 21.5% year-over-year in the first quarter, while non-Tesla electric vehicle (EV) registrations grew 14%. Tesla's stock price got hammered as a result, falling 54% from mid-December highs to early April lows. It's since recovered alongside the broad market, jumping 35%, largely on news Elon Musk would step away from DOGE. Doug Kass has seen a thing or two. His career stretches back into the 1970s at money manager Putnam, including a stint as research director for billionaire Leon Cooperman's Omega Advisors. His deep experience navigating markets professionally means he had a front-row seat to his share of political, economic, and stock market surprises. He witnessed Richard Nixon's Watergate implosion, the inflation-riddled 70s, the Savings & Loan crisis, the Internet boom and bust, hanging chads, the housing-bubble-driven Great Financial Recession, Trump presidency version 1.0, Covid, and the recent inflation shock and recovery. Related: Veteran strategist unveils updated gold price forecast Every December, he tests that experience with his "surprises" list for the coming year. This year, in addition to predicting the S&P 500 sell-off, he forecast the unfriendly end of the Trump-Musk relationship. "Surprise #2: The 'other' romance, between Trump/Musk, doesn't make it past spring 2025," wrote Kass. "National protests and demonstrations emerge and demands from a wide array of members of both the Republican and Democratic parties (including conservatives and liberals) call for 'ousting' Elon Musk, an unelected official, from playing such a dominant role in the U.S. government." Kass's Musk prediction is a longer read, but the gist is simple: Musk and Trump will suffer a fallout, which may have consequences for investors. He revisited his outlook, offering a new take on the Trump-Musk situation. "Right in front of us, it is obvious that political positions of influence can easily be bought-sold by both parties (and that certainly includes the presidency)," wrote Kass. "I am not even sure where the performance ends and reality begins. In the end (probably sooner than later) - just like the president's opening salvos of ridiculously high tariff proposals - the two actors will likely have a detente (and kiss and make up) because the downside is certain for both of them, as no one will win. When that make-up happens, no one knows. It could happen today, next week or next month, but the parties' 'interests' are now so enmeshed that Musk and Trump recognize where their bread is buttered." A potential "easing" of tensions would be welcome, given that a long-term tit-for-tat would fuel market volatility. Still, Kass's view of what happens to the stock market next isn't encouraging. "Never in my investing career has there been so many possible social, political, geopolitical, economic, interest rates and fiscal policy outcomes (many of which are adverse). That is why I don't understand the uber confidence expressed by the Perma Bull cabal (led by Fundstrat's Tom Lee) and manifested in a near-vertical move higher for equities over the last two months," continued Kass. "With a forward PE of 22x, equities remain overvalued and, after covering my Index shorts yesterday, I plan to reshort any rally." If Kass is correct that instability will force stocks lower, how low could it go, and when might things improve? "I see seven lean months ahead for our markets. We estimate downside risk to be roughly 3x the upside reward," concludes Kass. Related: Veteran fund manager who predicted April rally updates S&P 500 forecast The Arena Media Brands, LLC THESTREET is a registered trademark of TheStreet, Inc.
Yahoo
23 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Potential federal cuts could lead Interfaith Housing Alliance to shrink services
Jodie Ostoich, the president and CEO of the Interfaith Housing Alliance, said it's hard to say how much of the organization's funding is in jeopardy due to possible federal funding cuts for fiscal year 2026. About 30% of the alliance's funding comes directly from the federal government, but the nonprofit also gets state 'pass-through' grants with federal money. 'We have deep concern about the proposed federal budget cuts to housing programs, which will have devastating effects on families across the nation,' Ostoich wrote in an email in May to community members asking for donations. 'The recent budget proposal includes significant reductions to essential housing assistance programs, which are critical for the well-being of millions of Americans.' The federal fiscal year begins Oct. 1. President Donald Trump's proposed budget was submitted to the U.S. Senate's Appropriations Committee on May 2. The administration released an appendix to the proposed budget on May 30. The Senate Appropriations Committee is still reviewing Trump's proposal, with several subcommittee hearings scheduled for next week. 'The recommended funding levels result from a rigorous, line-by-line review of FY 2025 spending, which was found to be laden with spending contrary to the needs of ordinary working Americans and tilted toward funding niche non-governmental organizations and institutions of higher education committed to radical gender and climate ideologies antithetical to the American way of life,' Russell Vought, director of the U.S. Office of Management and Budget, wrote in a letter to Appropriations Committee Chair Sen. Susan Collins introducing the budget proposal. The Interfaith Housing Alliance (IHA), founded in 1990, develops affordable housing and offers educational programs and social services in parts of Maryland and Pennsylvania to low- and moderate-income communities. Some educational programs include the organization's 'Credit Café,' through which people can better understand their credit and credit reports, and a financial freedom bootcamp. The IHA also offers a purchase-repair homeownership program, with free technical assistance to participants in Frederick, Carroll and Washington counties throughout the homeownership process. The organization also manages affordable rental communities throughout central and western Maryland, as well as southcentral Pennsylvania. Ostoich said in an interview that in 2024, over 200 people participated in IHA workshops. At the end of last year, 15 people were in the homeownership program. Additionally, she said, about 270 households are living in the properties IHA manages. CUTS AND IMPACTS In her May email asking for donations, Ostoich outlined possible reductions to housing assistance programs proposed in the federal budget that would impact the IHA or were used by the organization to develop housing. Those cuts include: * A reduction of $26.7 billion from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's State Rental Assistance Block Grant. Rental assistance programs will be restructured into a block grant system with capped financial support for able-bodied adults. * Eliminating $3.3 billion in flexible funding through the Community Development Block Grant that supports housing rehabilitation, infrastructure and neighborhood revitalization * Cutting $1.25 billion from the HOME Investment Partnerships Program, which supports building and preserving affordable housing * A reduction of $721 million in rural development housing programs, pulling back federal engagement with housing in underserved rural areas In an interview Wednesday, Ostoich said that if the cuts are approved, the IHA would have to shrink, and it would have to reassess what other programs it could offer. 'It certainly would open the door to many more collaborations, I think, that potentially hadn't happened before,' she said. '... Obviously, I don't have a crystal ball of what could happen.' Ostoich wrote in her email that the IHA has used Community Development Block Grant money to fund repairs and deliver supportive services throughout Frederick County and has used HOME Investment Partnerships Program funding to partially finance four tax credit projects with a total of 129 housing units. Additionally, the IHA has used the State Rental Assistance Block Grant at an apartment community it manages on North Market Street. Ostoich said that every two years, the IHA has received a rural development grant, and the organization usually states how many housing units it will complete in that two-year grant period. 'What that relies on is those mortgages that [the USDA's] Rural Development makes available to low- and moderate-income households. They are special mortgages that make the mortgage affordable, so there's no other product quite like them,' she said. These mortgages are made more affordable through things like extended payment terms. There's more leniency, and these mortgages help people who want to buy homes begin to build generational wealth for their families. Ostoich said there isn't money for these Rural Development mortgages in the fiscal year 2026 budget proposal. She said getting this mortgage funding has been an issue since February 2024. The IHA is working on a new homeownership program that isn't limited to rural areas and would open up more homeownership opportunities to people in urban areas. That way, the program wouldn't have to depend on funding from Rural Development and could get money from other sources. Since last year, the IHA has felt more urgency to develop this new program, Ostoich said. The reduction of the IHA's programs and workshops would impact other local nonprofits, such as the United Way of Frederick County, that collaborate with the organization. United Way serves individuals who are ALICE, which stands for Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed. People who are ALICE make above the federal poverty line but still struggle to afford basic necessities, including housing. Ken Oldham, United Way's CEO, said that his organization frequently partners with the IHA to help financially struggling families begin the journey to homeownership. He said United Way pairs people with the IHA's purchase-repair homeownership program. It also uses the Credit Café workshops in its own 'Pathway to Homeownership' program to effectively educate people and help them repair their credit. Pairing with other programs like the IHA's homeownership program 'really opens the door for ALICE households to make a generational-changing financial move on behalf of themselves and their families,' Oldham said. If the IHA has to shrink its program offerings, that could exacerbate the challenges ALICE households face trying to buy homes, such as poor credit and expensive mortgages. 'It would put United Way in a position where we would have to figure out that credit piece [of Pathway to Homeownership] on our own. ... The IHA does such a great job with it. That would be painful. That would be very difficult,' Oldham said. 'The lack of that rural purchase program would take a very significant tool out of the toolbox for ALICE households to purchase a home.' Ostoich said she's still looking for projects for the IHA to do at the direction of the nonprofit's Board of Directors. 'I am still pounding that pavement and trying to move forward in ways that will deliver on the mission we're committed to,' she said. '... There's a lot of concern about being able to serve people and knowing that nonprofits often fill the gaps for government programming, really wondering what is going to happen to people if nonprofits cannot continue to serve the number of people they do.'
