Calley Means resigns as Kennedy adviser amid frustration over MAHA policy

Calley Means, a senior adviser to US Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and a prominent Make America Healthy Again advocate, resigned from the Trump administration on October 22. His departure comes amid complaints from some movement supporters about the pace of federal action on food and pesticide policy.

Means did not give a reason for leaving in his public statement, the Associated Press reported. He said he was departing with ‘tremendous respect’ for President Donald Trump and Kennedy, and described the movement as being ‘in the first inning and just getting started.’

The stalled ultraprocessed food definition

Kennedy had promised a first federal definition of ultraprocessed food in April, according to the AP. Instead, acting Food and Drug Administration commissioner Kyle Diamantas told a conference that defining the category was ‘really hard.’ After staff suggested another announcement was near in August, the administration announced a proposal for greater scrutiny of food additives. NBC reported that the definition had still not been released when Means resigned.

The person familiar with Means’ decision also cited Trump’s executive order to increase the US supply of glyphosate, NBC reported. The AP said some MAHA supporters had voiced dissatisfaction with administration progress on glyphosate regulation and food issues.

Means’ role in the MAHA movement

Means advised Kennedy’s 2024 presidential campaign and joined the White House early in 2025 as a special government employee, NBC reported. He later became a full-time senior adviser at the Department of Health and Human Services after divesting from his wellness company, Truemed. The AP reported that he used his administration role to criticize physician groups, federal agencies and government scientists, arguing that they protected their own interests.

In his resignation statement, Means pointed to actions he considered MAHA successes, NBC reported. He cited restrictions on soda purchases through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, faster research and review of psychedelics, calls for food companies to phase out certain dyes voluntarily, and revised federal dietary guidelines recommending less ultraprocessed food and more protein.

White House spokesperson Allison Schuster said the administration was grateful for Means’ service and praised his work for the MAHA movement, according to both reports. The AP said a Health and Human Services representative did not respond to its request for comment.