5 Key Questions for the next U.S. Surgeon General

As the Senate prepares to consider the nomination of Casey Means for U.S. surgeon general, members of Congress must ensure America’s chief health communicator can advance prevention, rebuild public trust, and strengthen the country’s readiness for future infectious disease threats.

Here are five questions that address urgent priorities for families and clinicians across the U.S.

How will the surgeon general address ongoing measles outbreaks and the looming threat to America’s measles elimination status?

In 2025, the U.S. has endured more than 1,600 measles cases and three deaths across 42 states — the worst national figures in decades. Medical experts caution the true case count is likely much higher.

The U.S. has held “measles elimination status” since 2000 – signifying no uncontrolled domestic spread for 12 months or longer – but is likely to lose that title in January 2026, one year since a major outbreak began in West Texas.

The next surgeon general must communicate with clarity and compassion, ensuring families understand the safety and effectiveness of the MMR vaccine and the personal stakes of prevention.

How will the surgeon general help the public distinguish between credible and misleading health information?

Trust comes from evidence-driven transparency, and Americans deserve clear answers. The next surgeon general must elevate the voices of trusted messengers to allow constituents to ask real questions, challenge misinformation, and hear directly from those already considered relatable and trustworthy – like personal doctors and community leaders.

What steps will the surgeon general take to ensure every American has access to vaccines and credible information to make informed choices?

Recent polling shows that Americans across party lines want vaccines to remain widely available and information to come from trusted medical professionals.

A bipartisan survey found that three-quarters of voters (74%) believe ensuring FDA-approved vaccines are accessible to all Americans should be a top national priority, and more than 8 in 10 (81%) want the U.S. to remain a leader in developing new vaccines.

Likewise, a Fabrizio Ward national poll reports that 85% of voters agree vaccines save lives and 89% believe vaccine recommendations should come from physicians, scientists and public health experts.

These findings underscore a shared national expectation: Americans want access, transparency and medical expertise guiding vaccine decisions.

How will the surgeon general promote public health and strengthen state and local efforts amid federal cuts?

The surgeon general leads America’s Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, a critical backbone of the nation’s health response. With recent reductions to federal public health funding, state and local agencies are being asked to do more with less. The office’s leadership will be vital in promoting prevention, supporting evidence-based programs, and ensuring coordination across all levels of government under tighter fiscal constraints.

As many states consider vaccine-related legislative changes, the surgeon general's leadership should provide a unifying national guide grounded in data and medical expertise.

What do you see as America’s most urgent health problems from an infectious disease standpoint?

Infectious diseases continue to rank among the nation’s most urgent health problems — from resurgent measles outbreaks to the steady rise of antimicrobial resistance, which now causes tens of thousands of deaths in the U.S. each year.

Strengthening surveillance, expanding prevention, and maintaining public trust in science-based communication will be critical to addressing these threats. America must be vigilant, coordinated, and prepared to confront emerging pathogens and to protect the effectiveness of existing treatments.