Leaked MAHA Report Advocates Major Changes in Children’s Health Policy

A leaked draft of the White House’s “Making Our Children Healthy Again Strategy” reveals a comprehensive federal initiative aimed at tackling childhood chronic diseases. The proposal, developed by the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) Commission under the leadership of Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr., emphasizes a multi-faceted approach to improving children’s health. This effort builds on President Trump’s Executive Order 14212, which established the MAHA Commission.

The draft highlights a variety of strategies to address rising childhood chronic illnesses, attributing these trends to factors such as processed diets, chemical exposure, sedentary lifestyles, chronic stress, and overmedicalization. Key recommendations from the report include the formation of a National Institutes of Health (NIH) MAHA Chronic Disease Task Force and enhanced collaboration with agencies like the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).

Proposed Policy Reforms and Structural Changes

The report outlines several significant policy reforms aimed at improving dietary and health standards. Among these is the creation of a framework to evaluate cumulative chemical exposure and the establishment of New Approach Methodologies (NAMs). The report advocates for studying food and lifestyle interventions through existing programs at HHS, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), and USDA.

Additionally, the report calls for the expansion of NIH’s nutrition research in collaboration with the FDA and USDA, along with the newly proposed Administration for a Healthy America (AHA). One notable initiative includes a joint nutrition regulatory science program between the FDA and NIH.

The draft also proposes updates to the 2025–2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGAs), emphasizing the need to phase out synthetic food dyes and expedite the FDA’s review process for natural color additives. New standards for federal nutrition programs, including school lunches, are also recommended, alongside the definition of ultra-processed foods (UPFs) and revisions to the FDA’s Front-of-Pack labeling rule.

Concerns from Public Health Experts

A significant structural change proposed in the report is the reorganization of HHS to create the AHA, which would spearhead the federal response to chronic disease. The report also suggests reforms to the Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) process, stating that the FDA will update its regulations to ensure that all new food additives meet safety standards with greater transparency.

Despite the report’s ambitious proposals, public health experts have expressed concerns regarding the potential implications of this strategy. Critics warn that the emphasis on vaccine safety could undermine public trust in immunizations and detract from evidence-based medical practices.

As this draft remains unpublished, a final version is anticipated in the coming weeks. The outcome of this initiative could play a pivotal role in shaping future policies aimed at safeguarding the health of children across the nation.