US Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. July 30, 2025. (Photo by JIM WATSON/AFP via Getty Images)
AFP via Getty Images
As Mother’s Day draws near, it is timely to examine the efforts of Kennedy and the Trump administration in enhancing women’s lives. Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the Secretary of Health and Human Services, has been advocating for his Make America Healthy Again initiative.
In a January interview with Katie Miller, Kennedy advised, “You should do your own research.” He further commented, “A good mother doesn’t just trust the experts.” This places an unrealistic burden on mothers, who are already juggling multiple responsibilities. The “Whopper of the Week” from Defend Public Health highlights that numerous factors beyond a single mother’s control affect decision-making, emphasizing the need for expert guidance.
Here are some significant actions taken by Kennedy:
Tylenol
Last fall, President Trump sparked concern by inaccurately stating that Tylenol use during pregnancy was linked to autism. Kennedy, while more cautious, remarked that the evidence was “very suggestive” of a connection between acetaminophen and autism. Recently, he called for the retraction of a study that found no such link.
In response, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists stated, “Acetaminophen is well studied and proven to be safe for use during pregnancy, providing essential relief for pain, headaches, and fevers.” They warned that untreated conditions like maternal fever and persistent headaches could pose severe risks to both the mother and fetus.
COVID-19 Vaccines
In the spring, although FDA Commissioner Marty Makary and deputy Vinay Prasad classified pregnancy as a high-risk condition, Kennedy excluded healthy pregnant women and children from receiving COVID-19 vaccine boosters.
This decision faced opposition from professional bodies like ACOG and the American Academy of Pediatrics, who argued it disregarded vaccination evidence. Kennedy’s stance created confusion, complicating vaccine access. The CDC reported that, as of September 2, 2025, there were 9,800 cases of COVID-19-related Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in U.S. children, including 80 MIS-C deaths.
Childhood Vaccines
Kennedy has taken steps to significantly cut the number of childhood vaccines recommended by the CDC.
He dismissed all 17 members of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices last June, replacing them with his appointees. Despite a judge overturning these actions, six vaccines were recently dropped by Kennedy anyway.
These vaccines include protection against rotavirus, influenza, meningococcal disease, hepatitis A, and hepatitis B (HBV).
Previously, a recommendation was made against the birth dose of the Hepatitis B vaccine, potentially leading to 1,400 preventable hepatitis B infections, 300 liver cancer cases, 480 preventable deaths, and over $222 million in additional healthcare costs annually.
The CDC noted that the 2024–25 influenza season was particularly deadly, with 280 deaths—the highest since 2004, excluding the 2009–10 influenza A(H1N1) pandemic. Half of the children who died had underlying conditions, and 89% were not fully vaccinated. The CDC emphasized that everyone over six months should receive an annual influenza vaccination.
Despite no new data affecting the vaccine recommendations, many professional societies are advising adherence to the previous immunization schedule, as maintained by the AAP.
Dr. George C. Benjamin, executive director of the American Public Health Association, criticized the changes as “health policy malpractice at the highest level and urged reversal before children and families suffer.”
A measles outbreak has been reported in Texas and South Carolina, with 2,283 cases last year and a record 1,281 this year. Despite three deaths in Texas, Kennedy did not advocate for measles vaccination, instead promoting Vitamin A as a treatment, which led to hospitalizations for liver toxicity.
Future cases of subacute sclerosing panencephalitis, a fatal brain inflammation occurring years after measles infection, are likely.
A study recently indicated this condition occurs in 1 in 609 unvaccinated babies.
Although not a vaccine, Vitamin K is routinely given to newborns to prevent bleeding. Recently, some parents, based on their own research, have refused the injections, leading to infant deaths from preventable brain bleeds. Rep. Kim Schrier, D-WA, requested Kennedy to reassure parents about Vitamin K’s safety, which he declined.
Maternal Mortality
The Trump administration plans to cut $1 trillion from Medicaid, which funds over 40% of U.S. births, along with prenatal and postpartum care.
The U.S. ranks 55th globally, with the highest maternal mortality rate of any wealthy country, nearly doubling that of comparable economies. While global rates are declining, U.S. rates are not.
Alarmingly, pregnant Black women are over three times more likely to die than White women, with most deaths occurring post-partum, highlighting the need for continued post-delivery care. CDC data indicates that 87% of these deaths are preventable, with Black infants disproportionately affected.
Rep. Summer Lee (D-PA) has criticized the attacks on Black maternal health research and the cancellation of NIH grants in this area.
The increasing restrictions on abortions, even when the mother’s life is at risk, increase pregnancy risks, particularly in Texas, Idaho, South Dakota, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Mississippi.
Contraception
Since Roe v. Wade was overturned by the Supreme Court, access to contraceptives has faced numerous challenges, including restrictions on emergency contraceptives and parental consent requirements. Clarence Thomas has invited challenges to the constitutional right to birth control. Budget threats also threaten access to contraceptives.
Miriam Rabkin, MD, MPH, remarked, “If you want mom to be happy and healthy, she needs access to contraception so she can choose if and when to get pregnant!”
The most recent issue is the restriction on mifepristone, with a ruling against telehealth and mail-order access. Last year, FDA Commissioner Marty Makary initiated a review of the drug’s safety, despite its long-standing use by over 7.5 million women. Speculation suggests this review may be tied to Makary’s potential ouster.
Transgender Care
Kennedy also targeted transgender families, declaring that hospitals providing gender-affirming care to minors would lose Medicaid or Medicare funding. This decision was overturned by a judge who criticized Kennedy’s “wanton disregard” for the law. U.S. District Judge Mustafa T. Kasubhai noted, “Secretary Kennedy’s unlawful declaration harmed children,” adding that leaders acting without authority and the rule of law “he acts with cruelty.”
An Alternative Vision For Helping Mothers
Reflecting on Kennedy’s impact, Rabkin described his approach as “a disaster for the nation’s health in general.” She emphasized the “devastating impact of restricting access to reproductive health services, including obstetric care, contraception, and abortion.”
Defend Public Health proposes their “People’s Health Platform” as an alternative to the administration’s vision, which includes:
- Guaranteed health care for all, with:
- Clear, science-based information about pregnancy and infant health and training to recognize disinformation.
- Reliable public health data and information, including about outbreaks.
- Access to adequate, healthy food and nutritional programs if needed.
- Safe living environments—clean air, clean water, fluoridation.
- Regulated medical products that have been tested for safety and efficacy.
