Calley Means, a key architect of the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) movement, resigned from the Trump administration on Thursday, citing frustration over stalled progress on food policy reforms. As a top adviser at the Department of Health and Human Services, Means worked on initiatives to remove artificial food dyes, ban soda from SNAP, and increase transparency in food labeling. He also supported an executive order on psychedelic medications, boosted by podcast host Joe Rogan.
In a statement, Means expressed respect for President Trump and Robert F. Kennedy Jr., calling them historic figures fighting a corrupt bureaucracy. However, sources say he grew increasingly frustrated by the lack of movement on defining ultraprocessed foods and regulating them.
MAHA leader Vani Hari noted a turning point came when the White House issued an executive order supporting glyphosate production—a herbicide the movement opposes. “It became very clear in the last few months that no progress was getting made,” she said. Means, who helped unite RFK Jr. and Trump during the 2024 campaign, played a pivotal role in brokering their alliance after Trump’s assassination attempt in Butler, Pa. His efforts helped secure pledges from food companies to remove artificial dyes and seed oils.
He also co-authored MAHA reports on reducing chronic disease in children and worked on nutrition education reforms. Before joining the administration, Means co-wrote a book with his sister, Casey Means, advocating for diet and lifestyle changes to prevent disease. He held equity in Truemed, a health tech company he co-founded.
His resignation marks a significant setback for the MAHA agenda.
Source: New York Times Top Stories · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing