Calley Means, a leading Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) advocate focused on food policy, resigned from a post in President Donald Trump’s administration Thursday, The Associated Press reported, amid movement dissatisfaction over food security and glyphosate regulation.
Means served in a senior advisory role under Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., AP reported, after joining the White House early in Trump’s second term. AP said Means gave no explanation for leaving. In a statement, he expressed “tremendous respect” for Trump and Kennedy and said the MAHA movement was “just getting started.”
AP described different priorities within MAHA. Means concentrated on food, additives and pesticides, while some other figures wanted Kennedy to focus more on vaccine policy changes framed as medical freedom. AP also reported that Means had clashed with senior White House officials who feared tougher food proposals could strain ties with major food companies.
Means and his sister gained prominence in MAHA by arguing that ultraprocessed foods, additives and pesticides contribute to chronic health problems, AP reported. Kennedy had pledged a federal definition of ultraprocessed foods in April, but it had not been issued by the time of AP’s report. At a conference that month, Food and Drug Administration acting Commissioner Kyle Diamantas said drawing a boundary around the category was difficult.
In August, an administration announcement centered on a plan to examine food additives more closely; discussion of ultraprocessed foods was minimal, AP said. Kelly Ryerson, a leader of American Regeneration, told AP she admired Means’ work on food issues despite obstacles she linked to corporate interests.
White House spokeswoman Allison Schuster said the administration was grateful for Means’ service and called his work for MAHA a “fantastic job.”
