Trump Launches the Make America Healthy Again Commission
As Robert F. Kennedy Jr. took the oath of office as the HHS secretary, President Trump enacted an executive order to establish a panel aimed at addressing the chronic disease crisis in the country.
Shortly after Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was confirmed by the Senate as the Secretary of Health and Human Services, President Donald Trump signed an executive order to create the President’s Commission to Make America Healthy Again.
This announcement was made on February 13 in the Oval Office, where Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch administered the oath to Kennedy.
Kennedy is set to chair the commission, which will delve into the “root causes of America’s increasing health crisis,” including a focus on childhood chronic illnesses, as noted in a White House fact sheet.
The executive order stipulates that within 100 days, an evaluation of the childhood chronic disease crisis will be published.
The investigation will focus on the “over-use of medication” and will also examine the effects of food ingredients and chemicals, along with “certain other exposures.”
The study will take into account the effects of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), antipsychotic medications, mood stabilizers, stimulants, and weight-loss drugs.
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Health research funded by the federal government should prioritize “avoiding conflicts of interest” through transparency and open-source data, according to a White House fact sheet.
The commission aims to provide “gold-standard research on the reasons behind the health decline among Americans across all health-related research subsidized by the federal government,” the fact sheet outlines.
After the research concludes, a strategic report based on the findings will be made available, as indicated by the executive order.
“The commission shall not reconvene after submitting the strategy until an updated mission is presented to the president via the executive director,” the executive order specifies.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. waves to reporters while traveling to meet with Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) at the Capitol in Washington on December 17, 2024.Jose Luis Magana/AP Photo
After concluding his presidential campaign, Kennedy launched the “Make America Healthy Again” (MAHA) initiative, pledging to tackle the nation’s chronic disease epidemic.
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) oversees 13 agencies, which include the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
During the swearing-in ceremony, Kennedy expressed gratitude to Trump in front of the press corps.
“For the past two decades, I have prayed every morning for God to place me in a position to tackle the childhood chronic disease epidemic, and now, thanks to you, Mr. President, we will turn this vision into reality,” Kennedy remarked.
To Trump, Kennedy added: “I’ve shared before that I genuinely believe you are a pivotal historical figure who will reshape this country.”
The commission will also comprise Trump’s Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy Vince Haley, Office of Management and Budget head Russel Vought, and Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins, who was confirmed on the same day.
Additionally, leaders from the EPA, Veterans Affairs, Education, Housing and Urban Development, as well as several economic advisors will form part of the task force, along with the CDC and NIH directors.
Before Kennedy was sworn in, Trump remarked that Kennedy is “fully dedicated to eliminating harmful chemicals from our environment and food supply, and committed to providing the American people with the facts and answers that we have long been deprived of due to the failure of our public health system to earn the trust of our citizens.”
