Dr. Mehmet Oz has dramatically reversed his previous liberal positions on transgender treatments for minors and abortion to secure Senator Josh Hawley’s crucial endorsement for his nomination to lead Medicare and Medicaid Services. As a result, he received the Senate’s confirmation on Thursday.
At a Glance
- Senator Josh Hawley supported Dr. Oz’s nomination to head CMS after Oz disavowed his past liberal positions
- Oz has committed to ending transgender treatments for minors and pledged support for the Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision
- The television doctor previously expressed support for transgender surgeries and hormone treatments for minors
- Oz also walked back previous criticisms of state pro-life laws and promised to enforce conscience protections
From TV Doctor to Conservative Nominee
Missouri Republican Senator Josh Hawley has announced he will vote to confirm Dr. Mehmet Oz as President Trump’s nominee to lead the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) after securing commitments that Oz will align with conservative positions on transgender care for minors and abortion. This marks a significant policy shift for the former television personality who previously expressed support for gender-affirming treatments for young people and showed ambivalence on abortion restrictions.
The senator had initially expressed serious concerns about Oz’s past statements, pointing specifically to instances where the doctor used his media platform to discuss transgender issues in ways that did not align with conservative values. “I see he’s praised transgender surgeries for minors and supported hormone treatments [and] puberty blockers for kids in the past. And has also criticized state laws protecting life,” Hawley noted in his initial critique of the nomination.
Hawley’s Non-Negotiable Demands
Senator Hawley, known for his unwavering stance on social conservative issues, made it clear that alignment on these core values was non-negotiable for his support. His position carries significant weight in the Senate, despite not being a member of the Finance Committee that will first vote on Oz’s nomination. Hawley’s objections have previously led to the resignation of other Biden administration nominees, demonstrating his influence in the confirmation process.
“But many federal laws and regulations implicate life issues,” Hawley emphasized, highlighting the far-reaching implications of having someone with potentially liberal views in such a powerful healthcare position. This concern reflects broader Republican strategies to ensure all Trump administration appointees firmly support the party’s stance on issues like abortion and transgender care.
Oz’s Conservative Conversion
In response to these concerns, Dr. Oz has apparently made a complete reversal of his previous positions. According to Hawley’s office, Oz has now explicitly disavowed his past support for transgender treatments for minors and pledged to end such practices. This represents a dramatic shift from the doctor’s previous public statements during his years as a television personality.
“We are concerned about Dr. Oz in that vital role as he was an ambivalent supporter of human beings in the womb when running for the U.S. Senate,” stated Kristan Hawkins, president of Students for Life, expressing the initial worry many pro-life organizations had about the nomination.
Additionally, Oz has now walked back his previous criticism of state pro-life laws, expressed support for the Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision overturning Roe v. Wade, and committed to enforcing conscience protections for healthcare providers. He has also pledged to end federal funding for abortion providers, aligning himself fully with the Hyde Amendment restrictions that prevent federal funds from being used for abortion services.
Political Implications
This development highlights the Trump administration’s commitment to maintaining conservative policy positions throughout all levels of government agencies. By requiring nominees to explicitly align with the administration’s stance on socially conservative issues, President Trump is ensuring policy continuity across federal healthcare agencies that have enormous influence over American healthcare standards and practices.
The White House has expressed strong support for Oz’s confirmation, with officials emphasizing that his commitments align perfectly with President Trump’s healthcare vision. The Senate has voted in favor of his confirmation on Thursday, so it’s clear that Republican support is behind him following Hawley’s endorsement and Oz’s policy realignment.
