Hawley Skeptical of Trump Pick Oz: 'I Hope He's Changed His Views'

Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., has raised eyebrows with his skepticism toward Dr. Mehmet Oz, President Trump’s pick to lead the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). Hawley has specifically questioned Oz’s stance on transgender procedures for minors and abortion, expressing doubt about whether the TV doctor’s views align with Trump’s policies.

In a social media post, Hawley didn’t hold back: “I’ve been reading up on Dr. Oz – I see he’s praised trans surgeries for minors and supported hormone treatments & puberty blockers for kids in the past. And has also criticized state laws protecting life. I hope he’s changed his views to match President Trump! We need the Trump agenda at CMS.”

The senator plans to grill Oz during his confirmation process with a series of written questions. Among the key topics, Hawley wants to know whether Oz supports banning gender transition procedures for minors, a cornerstone of Trump’s healthcare policy. Hawley also asked whether Oz would back Trump’s executive order barring biological men from participating in women’s sports. Not exactly light reading for Oz.

Hawley pulled no punches, even referencing Oz’s previous work as a TV host. According to the senator, Oz had invited transgender advocates and surgeons to his show and had praised parents who supported their children’s gender transitions. Hawley demanded clarity on whether Oz’s views have shifted since then.

The senator also delved into abortion-related policies, asking if Oz believed the Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision, which overturned Roe v. Wade, was correctly decided. Hawley highlighted past remarks from Oz in which he appeared to oppose state-level restrictions on abortion, raising questions about whether corporate interests could influence his decisions if confirmed as CMS head.

Oz, who testified last week, committed to abiding by the Hyde Amendment, which prohibits federal funding for abortions. He emphasized that he didn’t want the federal government involved in sensitive medical decisions, though Hawley seemed to think that wasn’t quite enough.

Hawley’s questions extended to federal funding and Medicaid waivers. He asked whether Oz would support Trump-era policies that blocked funding to institutions providing gender-affirming care for minors. Hawley also suggested that CMS should clarify that federal laws like EMTALA do not mandate abortions, asking if Oz would return to Trump’s interpretation of the law.

Oz’s background as a heart surgeon-turned-TV personality didn’t escape Hawley’s scrutiny either. While Oz built a successful career hosting “The Dr. Oz Show” for 13 seasons, his past endorsements of supplements and private insurance plans have made him a controversial figure. If confirmed, Oz would oversee healthcare coverage for 150 million Americans enrolled in Medicare, Medicaid, or Affordable Care Act plans. That’s a lot of power for someone who once hawked green coffee extract.

The Senate Finance Committee, which will decide whether to forward Oz’s nomination to the full Senate, has not yet voted. Hawley, notably not a member of the committee, didn’t question Oz during last week’s hearings but is clearly making up for it now.

Hawley’s skepticism underscores the political tightrope Oz will have to walk to secure confirmation. With his past TV persona clashing with the Trump administration’s conservative healthcare agenda, Oz has some explaining to do. Whether he can win over doubters like Hawley remains to be seen.