Trump appoints Dr. Oz to head the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services

President-elect Donald Trump has announced his nomination of Dr. Mehmet Oz to lead the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). As the administrator, Oz will operate under the Secretary of Health and Human Services, a position that Trump has nominated Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to fill.

In his statement, Trump praised Oz, describing him as "an eminent Physician, Heart Surgeon, Inventor, and World-Class Communicator," who has been a prominent advocate for healthy living for decades.

Dr. Oz gained widespread recognition through his appearances on "The Oprah Winfrey Show" before launching his own program, The Dr. Oz Show. He ventured into politics in 2022 when he ran for the U.S. Senate seat in Pennsylvania but narrowly lost to John Fetterman.

If confirmed, Dr. Oz will collaborate closely with Robert F. Kennedy Jr., aiming to address what Trump referred to as the "illness industrial complex" and tackle chronic diseases affecting many Americans. Trump emphasized the need for reforming the healthcare system, stating that it "harms everyday Americans and crushes our Country’s budget."

While Dr. Oz is recognized as an accomplished surgeon, he has faced criticism regarding some health products and weight-loss advice promoted on his television show—claims that Congress deemed questionable. A study published in the British Medical Journal evaluated 479 medical recommendations made by Oz across 40 episodes and found that 15% contradicted scientific evidence.