Senator Josh Hawley from Missouri has expressed concerns about Dr. Mehmet Oz’s past positions on sensitive topics such as transgender procedures for minors and abortion. As part of the confirmation process for President Trump’s nominee to lead the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), Hawley has outlined several key questions he intends to ask Dr. Oz.
Hawley pointed out that Dr. Oz has previously supported transgender surgeries for minors and has made comments that seemed not to align with pro-life values. In a message shared on social media, he stated, “I’ve been reviewing Dr. Oz’s past statements and hope he aligns his views more closely with President Trump’s agenda.”
In his set of questions, the senator asked if Dr. Oz’s views have evolved since his time as a television personality. Hawley highlighted that on his show, Dr. Oz included advocates for transgender rights and discussions on children transitioning genders. One specific question posed was whether Dr. Oz supports the notion that gender transition procedures for minors should be banned, reflecting the growing concern among conservatives about safeguarding children.
Senator Hawley also inquired if Oz agrees with Trump’s executive order that prohibits biological males from competing in women’s sports and whether he believes CMS should promote gender transition surgeries. He urged Dr. Oz to commit to not approving any federal funding for any gender reassignment surgeries or similar procedures within the CMS framework.
Hawley raised concerns about Dr. Oz’s previous statements on abortion, including his opposition to state laws limiting abortions based on fetal heartbeat. The senator asked if Oz believes the Supreme Court’s decision in the Dobbs case, which overturned Roe v. Wade, was correctly decided.
Moreover, Hawley emphasized the importance of protecting life and questioned whether Dr. Oz would uphold federal laws preventing taxpayer dollars from funding abortions. The senator highlighted that the Trump administration had supported measures to exclude abortion providers from certain federal programs, and he wanted to know if Oz would follow suit if confirmed.
Dr. Oz, a well-known heart surgeon and former television host with significant influence, would oversee health insurance programs that affect 150 million Americans if confirmed. His role as CMS administrator would involve crucial decisions about health coverage practices across the nation.
Feedback from the Senate Finance Committee, which has not yet voted on Oz’s nomination, remains an essential element in this ongoing process as the full Senate prepares to discuss the nomination.
