The Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) Commission, chaired by Health and Human Services Secretary (HHS) Robert F. Kennedy Jr., has released a plan to address what it calls the nation’s “childhood chronic disease crisis.”
Building on its May 2025 assessment, the commission argues that children’s poor health stems from “poor diet, chemical exposure, lack of physical activity and chronic stress,” along with what it calls the “overmedicalization” of children.
The new strategy lays out 128 proposals spanning research, regulation, agriculture, nutrition policy and vaccine oversight.
“This strategy will translate the work of the Make America Healthy Again movement to policies that make a transformative and lasting impact for Americans and end the childhood chronic disease crisis,” the commission said.
Agriculture and food reform
Agriculture is central to the report. The USDA, in collaboration with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), is tasked with expanding precision agriculture technologies that can reduce chemical inputs and enhance soil health. The commission notes that “precision technology can help to decrease pesticide volumes, improve the soil microbiome, and have a significant financial benefit for growers.”
The USDA will also directed to reform farm-to-school grants and eliminate red tape that hampers local producers. By reforming farm-to-school grants, supporting local dairy processing and expanding mobile meat and produce processing units, the agency aims to connect small producers directly with families and schools. This would reduce dependence on highly processed foods while increasing access to local protein and fresh produce, the report read. To ensure farmers can meet these new goals, USDA will streamline organic certification and cut red tape for small farms and community-supported agriculture programs.
The strategy strikes a sharp tone on diet, pointing out that “over 60% of children’s calories now come from highly processed foods”—a shift the report ties to obesity, diabetes and other chronic conditions. For the first time, USDA, HHS and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are directed to create a government-wide definition of “ultra-processed food” to guide research and possible policy changes.
Updated Dietary Guidelines for Americans (2025-2030) will emphasize whole proteins, fruits and vegetables while minimizing added sugar and artificial additives. The FDA will restrict the use of petroleum-based food dyes, encouraging the use of natural alternatives from domestic agriculture.
To raise public awareness, HHS and USDA will launch a campaign called “Real Food First,” urging families to choose nutrient-dense foods over packaged, high-sugar options. Another initiative, “Food for Health,” will highlight the role of proper diet in preventing and even reversing chronic disease.
Nutrition research will also expand. The National Institute of Health Office of Nutrition is tasked with “large-scale randomized control trials” on dietary patterns. At the same time, the USDA will focus on “precision nutrition” that identifies how individual dietary exposures affect health outcomes.
Chemical exposure
The report highlights chemical exposure as one of the four leading threats to children’s health. Regulators will develop a cumulative exposure framework across chemical classes, with pesticides singled out for closer scrutiny. According to the commission, “EPA will focus on pesticides acting through a common mode of action” and expand the use of New Approach Methodologies—including computational and human-relevant models—to improve the assessment of risks.
EPA will also expand public communication about its pesticide review process. “EPA, partnering with food and agricultural stakeholders, will work to ensure that the public has awareness and confidence in EPA’s pesticide robust review procedures,” the report said.
Vaccine and medical oversight
In addition to food and agriculture, the MAHA strategy takes a direct stance on vaccines and overmedicalization. HHS is directed to develop a new childhood vaccine framework that ensures schedules are backed by what the commission calls “gold-standard science.” This framework will also focus on addressing vaccine injuries, modernizing vaccine technology and correcting conflicts of interest in the pharmaceutical sector.
The commission stresses that too many children are being prescribed medications unnecessarily, often influenced by financial conflicts in research and regulation. As a corrective measure, HHS and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services will strengthen prescribing safeguards in programs such as Medicaid and the Child Health Insurance Program, while promoting non-pharmaceutical approaches, including nutrition, exercise and school-based wellness programs.
Reactions
Several industry groups commented on the release of the report, sharing their perspectives.
The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) welcomed the release of the MAHA Commission’s report, which highlighted the benefits of high-quality protein and the role cattle producers play in improving the nation’s health.
“This report confirms the science-based recommendation that making America healthy again has to start with safe, nutritious, fresh, whole-ingredient food—and American beef hits the target on all of the above,” said NCBA Senior Vice President of Government Affairs Ethan Lane. “As this administration has pointed out before, beef is the crown jewel of American agriculture. Millions of American families build a healthy plate around our product every week.”
The Meat Institute praised the MAHA strategy as a sweeping reform that rightly recognizes the role of nutrition, including meat and poultry, in children’s health.
“Science has shown what American parents have known all along: nutrient-dense meat and poultry products are essential to a well-balanced diet,” said Meat Institute President and CEO Julie Anna Potts.
She criticized past administrations for discouraging meat consumption, leaving children, mothers and seniors lacking protein, iron and zinc. Potts added that the new strategy “finally gives Americans encouragement to eat meat.”
The National Association of Wheat Growers (NAWG) stressed the importance of crop protection tools and the nutritional value of grain products. “American wheat farmers rely on safe and effective crop protection tools to ensure a stable and abundant wheat supply,” said NAWG President Pat Clements. He urged the commission to strike a balance between productivity and stewardship, noting that farmers “need the flexibility to use the best tools available.” Clements also defended enriched and refined grains, calling them vital sources of fiber, iron, folic acid and nutrients.
The Environmental Working Group (EWG) criticized the final MAHA report, accusing it of abandoning its promise to ban “toxic” farm chemicals. Instead, EWG said the plan embraces “pesticide industry rhetoric,” touting precision agriculture and confidence in EPA reviews while ignoring harmful pesticide bans. “It looks like pesticide industry lobbyists steamrolled the MAHA Commission’s agenda,” said EWG President Ken Cook, adding that Kennedy and President Donald Trump “cynically convinced millions they’d protect children—promises now exposed as hollow.” — Charles Wallace, WLJ contributing editor
