WASHINGTON, DC – MAY 22, 2025: President Donald Trump and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. attended an event last year introducing a new Make America Healthy Again Commission report in the East Room of the White House. The commission, which is tasked with studying the potential causes for the “childhood chronic disease crisis,” recommends reassessing the nation’s childhood vaccine schedule, scrutinizing ultra-processed foods and studying pesticides used in commercial farming. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
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The food agenda of the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) initiative, led by Robert F. Kennedy Jr., faces challenges due to certain policies of the Trump administration. Environmental contaminants in agriculture identified as harmful by MAHA have been largely deregulated, while budget cuts have impacted the affordability of a MAHA-recommended diet for low-income individuals.
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is supporting various programs to combat what Secretary Kennedy describes as the “chronic disease epidemic.” This effort includes the consolidation of entities under the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention into the Administration for a Healthy America (AHA), specifically the National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion and the Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity. AHA is described as the primary federal agency dedicated to improving the health of Americans by addressing the root causes of chronic diseases, promoting preventive care, enhancing mental health and substance use services, and increasing access to healthy environments and foods.
The inaugural MAHA Commission report, issued last year, identified various factors contributing to childhood chronic disease. These include poor diet, the increasing consumption of ultra-processed foods, food dyes, excessive pesticide use in agriculture, and a buildup of environmental chemicals. The report provides a range of policy recommendations to counteract these issues.
Although some food dyes have been or are set to be removed, and the negative impacts of ultra-processed foods are highlighted in updated U.S. dietary guidelines, pesticides and other contaminants have seen little regulation.
This deregulation contradicts Kennedy’s remarks at a 2024 campaign rally, following his endorsement of then-candidate President Trump, where he questioned whether people want to ensure that their food is free of cancer and chronic disease-causing chemicals.
Glyphosate, a broad-spectrum systemic herbicide used on crops, is one chemical Kennedy has consistently criticized. The MAHA report identifies glyphosate as a key contributor to the rise in chronic diseases, suggesting it may pose serious health risks, including cancer.
There has been significant tension between MAHA and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) over the widespread use and production of glyphosate. MAHA’s goals often seem in conflict with EPA director Zeldin’s stance on glyphosate regulation. Zeldin opposes further regulation of the herbicide.
The EPA and the Justice Department supported Bayer in a Supreme Court case that could protect pesticide manufacturers from future liability related to Roundup, initially formulated with glyphosate as its main active ingredient. [Starting in 2024, Bayer launched new Roundup formulations for consumers that do not contain glyphosate.]
President Trump also signed an executive order invoking the Defense Production Act to mandate the domestic production of glyphosate, citing “national security and supply chain vulnerabilities.” Health and Human Services Secretary Kennedy, unexpectedly, supported this as a “defense readiness” measure.
The EPA is currently conducting a scientific review of glyphosate’s potential to cause cancer. Director Zeldin has promised not to interfere with the safety assessment. The EPA has shown a willingness to collaborate with MAHA activists seeking stricter chemical regulations.
However, the EPA has maintained a pro-business, deregulation-focused approach, aggressively rolling back a range of environmental and pollution regulations along with federal oversight.
While the MAHA report references European food standards that prohibit certain pesticides in agriculture, Zeldin argues that such mandates would hinder economic growth.
Despite the MAHA report’s concerns about American agricultural products, Trump administration officials from both the EPA and the U.S. Department of Agriculture maintain that the nation’s food supply is safe.
The challenges extend beyond differing perspectives and environmental policies among departments. There is also a disconnect between MAHA’s nutritional recommendations and the affordability of a MAHA-inspired diet, particularly for vulnerable groups.
Kennedy’s HHS emphasizes consuming what he terms real food—whole, minimally processed, nutrient-dense foods without excessive processing, additives, and sugars. The revised U.S. dietary guidelines reflect this nutritional approach, emphasizing a protein-rich diet that favors animal sources like red meat over plant-based items.
In addition to debates over the guidelines, significant cuts in funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (formerly food stamps) and reduced benefits in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children have made it more difficult for low-income individuals to access quality food. Kennedy has voiced his dissatisfaction with these budget cuts, stating he is “not happy” about them.
Therefore, although MAHA’s food agenda remains significant, achieving its objectives is increasingly complicated by several Trump administration policies.
