RFK Jr. Consultant Calley Means resigns amid growing MAHA discontent over lack of progress

WASHINGTON (AP) – Calley Means, a top adviser to Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and a chief advocate for the Make America Healthy Again movement, resigned from his position with the Trump administration on Thursday.

In a statement, Means did not say why he was leaving. His departure comes as leading voices in the MAHA movement have expressed dissatisfaction with what they say is the Trump administration’s lack of progress on several issues, including food safety and regulation of the weed killer glyphosate.

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Means said he leaves “with tremendous respect” for President Donald Trump and Kennedy.

“The past two years have seen historic policy and cultural change to confront the chronic disease crisis and the health care system that takes advantage of us being sick,” Means said. “This movement is in the first inning and just getting started.”

Means was hired as a White House adviser early in the second Trump administration. He used his perch at the Health and Human Services Department to attack the nation’s leading physician groups, federal agencies and government scientists, claiming they were only protecting their own interests.

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White House spokeswoman Allison Schuster said the Trump administration is “grateful” for Means’ time and “he’s done a fantastic job for the MAHA movement.” A representative from Health and Human Services did not respond to a request for comment.

Health activist Kelly Ryerson, a leader of American Regeneration, who is also known as the Glyphosate Girl on social media, said that she was “impressed that he completed over two years at HHS to fight the food battle, despite all the obstacles presented by corporate interests.”

“At the heart of MAHA is a shared belief that the health of the nation must not be sacrificed for corporate profit, and that an avoidable slide into chronic disease is a threat to America itself,” she said.

Means is the brother of wellness influencer, author and entrepreneur Dr. Casey Means, who was not confirmed as surgeon general earlier this year after doubts were raised about her vaccination status.

Means, along with his sister, came to prominence in the MAHA movement by arguing that ultra-processed foods, additives and pesticides are responsible for many of the chronic health conditions facing Americans.

Means has brought these arguments to the Trump administration and often clashed with senior officials in the White House, who worry about alienating the powerful food industry.

At the same time, Means’ emphasis on food was a source of frustration for other figures in the MAHA movement who wanted to see Kennedy focus on “medical freedom” issues. For many, that means rolling back federal recommendations and approvals for vaccines.

Despite Means’ efforts, the administration’s progress on food reforms has been slow.

Kennedy had promised the release of a first government definition of ultra-processed foods in April. Instead, the FDA’s acting commissioner, Kyle Diamantas, said at a conference that month that defining the class is “really difficult.”

In August, Kennedy staff again suggested that a major announcement on the matter was imminent. Instead, the announcement focused on a proposal that would bring more scrutiny to food additives. It only mentions ultra-processed foods.

Zen Honeycutt, founder of Mothers Across America, said Means will be missed by her organization, which runs local and national campaigns warning against pollution, water use and electricity costs associated with data center construction.

Honeycutt said Means “brought energy and fearlessness to the Hill to fight for healthy food in schools for our kids and for the health of America.”