The Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) Commission, established by Executive Order in January, aims to address the “childhood chronic disease crisis” by proposing solutions focused on food, nutrition, and public health. However, its initial report, released in May, has drawn criticism for overlooking access and health inequities affecting families nationwide. Critics argue that the report uses inadequate AI-generated citations and promotes anti-scientific ideas linked to Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., including biases regarding diets, vaccines, and electromagnetic exposure.
Key shortcomings include the report’s failure to hold the food industry accountable despite acknowledging its influence over research, as well as inconsistencies between the report’s positive recommendations and actions taken by the Trump administration that undermine those suggestions. For instance, while the report advocates for increasing access to whole foods, the administration has cut funding that supports local food initiatives for schools and food banks.
Additionally, the report neglects to address crucial issues like tobacco and alcohol use, as well as air pollution’s impact on children’s health. It sidesteps the reality that the National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding for nutrition issues is lacking, with proposed cuts in future budgets and the termination of funding for research institutions.
Overall, the assessment is criticized for repeating the administration’s longstanding talking points, with an emphasis on unfounded beliefs about nutrition programs and deregulation. Moving forward, stakeholders are encouraged to monitor the administration’s actions closely, as real progress in addressing chronic disease and improving nutrition will require reversing the harm done to public health programs since January.
