Disillusionment Grows in Make America Healthy Again Movement as Key Advisor Resigns

Image: Ars Technica · Source

Calley Means, a senior advisor to Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., resigns amid frustration over stalled food policy reforms within the Trump administration's MAHA initiative.

Calley Means, an early leader and senior advisor in the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) movement, resigned from his role in the Trump administration in October 2026. Means was closely allied with Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a prominent anti-vaccine advocate, and co-authored the MAHA movement's guiding book, often dubbed the “MAHA bible.” His resignation reflects deepening frustration within the administration over slowed progress on ambitious food policy reforms championed by MAHA.

Means expressed respect for both President Trump and Kennedy in a social media statement, highlighting policy efforts he supported such as reforms to Dietary Guidelines, psychedelic regulation, removing soda from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), elimination of food dyes, Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) reform, and revamping government food procurement. However, he offered no explicit reason for his departure.

Insiders cited by The Wall Street Journal describe Means as “disillusioned,” attributing his resignation to internal resistance from other administration officials who were perceived as yielding too much power to food industry lobbying and special interests. Sources report that Means became visibly frustrated and vocal in meetings about the lack of progress on critical issues like defining and regulating ultraprocessed foods and improving nutritional standards for school meals.

The resignation comes amid widening criticism of Kennedy’s leadership within MAHA. Many grassroots supporters are disappointed in the movement's failure to enact promised policy changes and the apparent alignment with corporate sponsors. A recent MAHA summit faced backlash for its acceptance of high-value sponsorships from corporations including Walmart, UnitedHealth, Anthropic, OpenAI, and Grail — a move viewed by some as contradictory to the movement's original grassroots ethos. Kennedy’s discussions with Vice President JD Vance about artificial intelligence during the event further fueled concerns about corporate influence.

Calley Means and his sister Casey co-authored a book titled "Good Energy: The Surprising Connection Between Metabolism and Limitless Health," which serves as a foundation of MAHA guidance. The book advises avoidance of processed foods, seed oils, certain home products, fluoride, and promotes skepticism toward conventional medicine.

Casey Means was nominated by Trump to be surgeon general, though the nomination was later withdrawn due to questions about her medical qualifications and controversial health positions.

Calley Means’ departure highlights the challenges facing MAHA as internal divisions and external pressures complicate its ambitious agenda to reshape American food policy and public health priorities.