Shortly after taking office as Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has been tasked with leading the newly formed Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) Commission, a sweeping initiative aimed at tackling America’s growing chronic disease crisis. Established through an executive order by President Donald Trump, the commission is charged with identifying the root causes of chronic illnesses that have plagued both children and adults, placing an enormous financial and societal burden on the nation.
According to the White House, the commission will analyze a range of potential contributors to poor health, including the American diet, toxic material exposure, medical treatments, corporate influence, and government policies. The commission aligns with Kennedy’s long-standing advocacy work and his prior leadership at Children’s Health Defense, an organization he founded in 2007.
“I have prayed each morning for the past two decades for God to put me in a position to solve the childhood chronic disease epidemic, and now, thanks to you, Mr. President, we will make this promise a reality,” Kennedy said in a statement on February 13.
The urgency behind the initiative is clear: six in ten Americans suffer from at least one chronic disease, while four in ten struggle with multiple. These conditions account for 90% of the country’s staggering $4.5 trillion annual healthcare expenditures. More alarmingly, a White House fact sheet revealed that 77% of young adults are unfit for military service, largely due to poor health, raising national security concerns. “In short, Americans of all ages are becoming sicker, beset by illnesses that our medical system is not addressing effectively. These trends harm us, our economy, and our security,” the order states.
The MAHA Commission’s first deadline arrives within 100 days, when it must present an initial assessment of the chronic disease crisis. Within 180 days, it will unveil a comprehensive “Make Our Children Healthy Again” strategy. To ensure a broad and coordinated effort, the commission includes leadership from the EPA, USDA, Veterans Affairs, Education, and HUD, along with economic and healthcare experts. Additionally, the CDC, FDA, and NIH directors will contribute to the research and policy recommendations.
Kennedy’s appointment has drawn significant attention, as he has long criticized the corporate ties between government agencies and the pharmaceutical and food industries. He has vowed to promote “radical transparency” at HHS and restore the integrity of scientific research, arguing that conflicts of interest have led to compromised public health policies. “Federally funded health research should avoid conflicts of interest,” the White House stated, emphasizing that corporate influence must be curtailed.
During a 2024 roundtable with Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), Kennedy accused the FDA, CDC, and USDA of acting as “sock puppets” for the industries they are supposed to regulate. His goal as HHS secretary is to implement reforms that ensure the health and safety of Americans, rather than protect the financial interests of corporations.
Beyond the commission, Kennedy is also expected to collaborate with Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins to revamp the nation’s food policies, including potential reforms to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, which provide food assistance to millions of Americans. Rollins has expressed concerns about taxpayer dollars funding the purchase of unhealthy, ultra-processed foods, stating, “We need to look at where that money is going, what it’s being spent on.”
Vaccine policy remains a contentious issue surrounding Kennedy’s leadership. While Democrats have long labeled him as “anti-vaccine,” Kennedy has maintained that he is simply pro-vaccine safety and informed consent. “I’ve never been anti-vaccine,” he told The Epoch Times in September 2024. “People should have a choice, and that choice should be informed by the best information possible.” Following his confirmation, Kennedy pledged to establish a more transparent vaccine injury reporting system, citing flaws in the current Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS).
Trump has also given Kennedy the authority to investigate the potential link between vaccines and autism, a topic that Kennedy has been vocal about for years. Government data shows that autism diagnoses have skyrocketed, from 1 in 150 children in 2000 to 1 in 36 by 2020. Trump’s executive order further noted that in the 1980s, autism rates were estimated at just 1 in 10,000 children.
Kennedy has also made ultra-processed foods and toxic chemicals a key area of focus. He has condemned the widespread use of artificial dyes and seed oils in American foods, citing how products like Froot Loops contain significantly more artificial additives in the U.S. than in other countries. “One hundred and twenty years ago, when someone was obese, they were sent to the circus. In Japan, the childhood obesity rate is 3%,” he said, illustrating how America’s health crisis has spiraled out of control.
The overarching goal of the MAHA Commission is simple: restore the health of the American people. Kennedy believes this requires rooting out corruption in health agencies, reforming healthcare incentives, and inspiring personal responsibility for health. With corporate influence deeply embedded in Washington, the commission faces an uphill battle. However, if successful, it could be a defining moment in reclaiming public health policy for the benefit of the American people—not the industries that profit from disease.
