Newly appointed Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. will head a new commission focused on addressing the growing issue of chronic diseases in the United States. The commission, established by President Trump through an executive order, aims to identify root causes, reduce disease rates, and promote healthier food and environmental practices.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. , the newly confirmed health and human services secretary, will lead a new commission dedicated to tackling chronic disease s. President Donald Trump established the commission on Thursday with an executive order issued shortly after the Senate confirmed Kennedy.
The Make America Healthy Again Commission will comprise several high-ranking federal officials, including the administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, the commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration, and the directors of the National Institutes of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Public health experts remain deeply concerned about Kennedy's ascent from a fringe figure in the alternative health movement who promoted various debunked ideas to one of the most influential positions in U.S. healthcare. While he has stated his support for the CDC's recommended vaccination schedule, this has done little to alleviate fears that he may advance an anti-vaccine agenda within HHS. Doctors and researchers nationwide are also on high alert for potential funding cuts, particularly after the NIH abruptly sought to restrict indirect funding, which covers expenses such as equipment, maintenance, and personnel. The NIH oversees 60,000 grants annually, supporting approximately 300,000 researchers.The executive order reflects many of Kennedy's priorities outlined during his confirmation hearings last month. He has proposed prioritizing chronic disease research over infectious disease research, though scientists emphasize the interconnectedness of these fields. He has also advocated for stricter regulations on food additives and environmental chemicals, aligning with European standards. The order emphasizes a national effort to reduce chronic disease rates in the United States, citing the alarming rise in cases of cancer, obesity, diabetes, asthma, and autism spectrum disorder. It states, 'Americans of all ages are becoming sicker, beset by illnesses that our medical system is not addressing effectively. These trends harm us, our economy, and our security.' The order establishes a policy to eliminate conflicts of interest in federally funded health research, supports investigations into 'the root causes of why Americans are getting sick,' and aims to collaborate with farmers to ensure that food in the United States is both the healthiest and 'most affordable in the world.' Under this executive order, the commission has 100 days to present a report to the president on childhood health issues. The report will analyze 'the threat that potential over-utilization of medication, certain food ingredients, certain chemicals, and certain other exposures pose to children,' as well as 'the prevalence of and threat' posed by prescribing antidepressants, antipsychotics, mood stabilizers, stimulants, and weight-loss drugs. The commission also has 180 days to submit a strategy for restructuring the federal government's response to chronic diseases in children, including 'ending federal practices that exacerbate the health crisis or unsuccessfully attempt to address it.'
Chronic Disease Robert F. Kennedy Jr. HHS Commission Donald Trump Public Health Vaccination NIH Funding Food Additives Environmental Chemicals
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