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MAHA Commission Unveils Sweeping Strategy to Make Our Children Healthy Again
Washington, Sept. 9, 2025 – The Make America Healthy Again Commission today released the Make Our Children Healthy Again Strategy, a sweeping plan with more than 120 initiatives to reverse the failed policies that fueled America’s childhood chronic disease epidemic. The strategy outlines targeted executive actions to advance gold-standard science, realign incentives, increase public awareness, and strengthen private-sector collaboration.
Chaired by U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the Commission is tasked with investigating and addressing the root causes of America’s escalating health crisis, with a focus on childhood chronic diseases.
“The Trump Administration is mobilizing every part of government to confront the childhood chronic disease epidemic,” Secretary Kennedy said. “This strategy represents the most sweeping reform agenda in modern history—realigning our food and health systems, driving education, and unleashing science to protect America’s children and families. We are ending the corporate capture of public health, restoring transparency, and putting gold-standard science—not special interests—at the center of every decision.”
“Today’s MAHA Commission report is another historic milestone for our country and a testament to President Trump’s leadership and commitment to Make America Healthy Again,” said U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins. “America’s farmers and ranchers are at the heart of the solution — alongside doctors, parents, and communities - to fight chronic disease and protect future generations. Under this Administration, we are not just talking about healthy outcomes; we are delivering them by securing voluntary commitments to remove artificial food dye from major brands, providing technical assistance to states interested in restricting junk food and soda from SNAP, and providing growers with new tools to maintain and improve soil health, including the introduction of a regenerative farming practice pilot program. Together with our partners at HHS and EPA, we are charting a new course, strengthening the health of our families, and ensuring the United States leads the world with the safest, strongest, and most abundant food supply.”
Key Focus Areas of the Strategy
Restoring Science & Research: Expanding NIH and agency research into chronic disease prevention, nutrition and metabolic health, food quality, environmental exposures, autism, gut microbiome, precision agriculture, rural and tribal health, vaccine injury, and mental health.
Historic Executive Actions: Reforming dietary guidelines; defining ultra-processed foods; improving food labeling; closing the GRAS loophole; raising infant formula standards; removing harmful chemicals from the food supply; increasing oversight and enforcement of direct-to-consumer prescription drug advertising laws; improving food served in schools, hospitals, and to veterans; and reforming Medicaid quality metrics to measure health outcomes.
Process Reform & Deregulation: Streamlining organic certification; easing barriers to farm-to-school programs and direct-to-consumer sales; restoring whole milk in schools; supporting mobile grocery and processing units; modernizing FDA drug and device approval; and accelerating EPA approvals for innovative agricultural products.
Public Awareness & Education: Launching school-based nutrition and fitness campaigns, Surgeon General initiatives on screen time, prioritizing pediatric mental health, and expanding access to reliable nutrition and health information for parents.
Private Sector Collaboration: Promoting awareness of healthier meals at restaurants, soil health and land stewardship, and community-led initiatives, and scaling innovative solutions to address root causes of chronic disease.
With this strategy, the MAHA Commission leads the most ambitious national effort ever to confront childhood chronic disease and Make America Healthy Again.
“Protecting human health and the environment while powering America's comeback isn’t just about serving Americans today; it’s about ensuring future generations inherit clean air, land, water, and the foundation for healthy lives,” EPA Administrator Zeldin said. “The Make America Healthy Again strategy outlines the keys to success from pro-growth policies that advance research and drive innovation to private sector collaboration and increased public awareness. I look forward to continuing to work collaboratively across the federal family to ensure our kids and our environment are protected.”
“For too long health care has used a reactive approach to chronic diseases,” FDA Commissioner Dr. Marty Makary said. “I am pleased to support the findings of the MAHA commission and to promote a more proactive approach, tackling root causes undermining the health and happiness of American children.”
“The MAHA Report provides a blueprint for the entire government to focus on solving the chronic disease crisis facing American children,” NIH Director Dr. Jay Bhattacharya said. “We must make America healthy again so our children live longer and healthier lives than we will.”
Today’s MAHA Commission press event included: HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., DPC Director Vince Haley, USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins, EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin, NIH Director Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, FDA Commissioner Dr. Marty Makary, HHS Deputy Secretary Jim O’Neill, NEC Director Kevin Hassett, CEA Vice Chair Pierre Yared, and OSTP Director Michael Kratsios.
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As a reminder, meals and snacks offered through the child nutrition programs may be claimed for federal reimbursement if they meet the federal nutrition requirements and other federal regulations. State agencies may not withhold federal reimbursement for meals that meet the federal requirements, even if additional state requirements are not met. However, if a state provides an additional reimbursement above the federal reimbursement, they may withhold the state reimbursement.
Under the leadership of Secretary Brooke Rollins, USDA is prioritizing the clarification of statutory, regulatory, and administrative requirements of the National School Lunch Program and the School Breakfast Program.
This memorandum provides notice to child nutrition program operators regarding the Full-Year Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2025 (the 2025 Appropriations Act), March 15, 2025. This applies to state agencies administering, and local organizations operating, the USDA FNS child nutrition programs.
In the First 100 Days of the Trump Administration, Secretary Rollins Works to Make America Healthy Again
Washington, D.C., May 2, 2025 - In the first 100 days of the Trump Administration, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins has taken bold action to support the leadership of President Donald J. Trump and work to Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) at the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).
“President Trump has made fixing our chronic health problems a main priority. Our farmers and ranchers produce the safest, most abundant food supply in the world, and we are working every day to ensure our kids and families are eating the healthiest foods. We have made great strides in the last 100 days to Make America Healthy Again,” said Secretary Rollins.
On her first full day in office, Secretary Rollins sent a letter to the nation’s governors (PDF, 88.8 KB), outlining her vision for the Department and inviting them to participate in a new “laboratories for innovation” initiative to create bold solutions to long-ignored challenges. She has supported the leadership of states who are submitting waivers to Make America Healthy Again. The MAHA movement at USDA has also supported major voluntary changes to make food healthier, including applauding the dairy industry for voluntarily removing artificial colors from the National School Lunch Program.
At the direction of President Trump, USDA and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) are ensuring programs work harder to encourage healthy eating and lifestyle habits. As part of the MAHA Commission led by HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., this work will not only research and report the many reasons children face unbelievable rates of diet-related disease like obesity and diabetes but also how government can implement change through things like revised dietary policy, state innovation, and less regulation. Secretary Kennedy and Secretary Rollins collaborated on their first MAHA event during a visit to Ferdinand T. Day Elementary School in Alexandria, VA where they participated in a healthy snack time with students and met facility staff. The event was an opportunity to learn more about the impact that federally funded nutrition programs have on children and signaled their strong partnership to work together to effectuate their vision for a healthier America. The Secretaries also wrote an opinion piece in USA Today outlining their plan to MAHA.
This week, the Secretaries visited Texas to discuss food security and learn how America’s farmers are working to Make America Healthy Again by visiting cutting-edge laboratories at the Texas A&M Norman E. Borlaug Building and receiving a briefing on the Grand Nutrition Challenge at the Institute for Advancing Health Through Agriculture (IHA). The Secretaries then toured the Automated Precision Phenotyping Greenhouse in addition to touring the fourth-generation Sawyer Farms who are utilizing stewardship practices to ensure healthy production of a robust barley, rye, corn, and wheat crop. The visit to Texas A&M IHA included amplifying the HHS and USDA commitment to a timely and consumer-facing update to Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA). On March 11, 2025, after the inaugural meeting of the Make America Healthy Again Commission, Secretary Rollins and Secretary Kennedy announced a commitment to a final DGA no later than Dec. 31, 2025.
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In the First 100 Days of the Trump Administration, Secretary Rollins Puts Farmers First
Washington, D.C., April 30, 2025 - In the first 100 days of the Trump Administration, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins has taken action to support the leadership of President Donald J. Trump and put Farmers First at the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).
“Farmers come first at the United States Department of Agriculture in the Trump Administration. We have had an action-packed first 100 days of President Donald J. Trump in the White House. At USDA, I have made bold changes to improve the lives of American producers and consumers. I look forward to continuing our work to bring America into a new golden age of prosperity, with American farmers and ranchers leading the way,” said Secretary Rollins.
Secretary Rollins also visited 15 states in the first 100 days of the Trump Administration, including Virginia, Kentucky, North Carolina, Georgia, Arkansas, Texas, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, North Dakota, Minnesota, Kansas, Missouri, Colorado, Ohio, and Iowa.
On day one, Secretary Rollins took action to support America’s farmers and ranchers, and in just her first week on the job, Secretary Rollins traveled to four states to hear directly from producers and to see their operations firsthand. In her first month, Secretary Rollins moved swiftly to advance key priorities focused on efficiency and agricultural prosperity.
In the first 100 days, USDA has put Farmers First. At Secretary Rollins’ direction, USDA has
- Supported American poultry and egg producers, addressed the avian flu, and lowered the cost of eggs for consumers. In February, Secretary Rollins announced a five-point plan to combat the avian flu and lower egg prices which has been applauded by agriculture and government leaders across the country. Since the plan was introduced, the wholesale price of eggs has decreased 56 percent.
- Taken bold action to respond to disease outbreaks to strengthen the domestic food supply, because food security is national security. This includes work to put pressure on the Mexican government for failing to cooperate in addressing the New World Screwworm or meet its water delivery obligations under the 1944 Water Treaty. As a result of these negotiations, Secretary Rollins announced a major win for American agriculture by securing the agreement of the Mexican government to meet the current water needs of farmers and ranchers in Texas.
- Dropped criminal charges against Charles and Heather Maude, a South Dakota family with a small cattle and hog operation, who endured a senseless politically motivated prosecution waged by the Biden Administration over 25 acres of U.S. Forest Service federal land.
- Fought for fair trade for all American farmers and ranchers by tackling trade barriers and visiting six countries in the next six months to expand market access.
- Unleashed American energy dominance through expanded access to mining and drilling on federal land and releasing a biofuels incentive program to help fuel America.
- Streamlined unnecessary regulations and cutting red tape for agricultural producers and industries to allow them to feed, fuel, and clothe the world. This work included sweeping reforms to boost timber production, streamline pork and poultry processing, and reduce wildfire risk through public-private partnerships.
- Approved a variety of congressionally authorized fund distributions to support communities affected by wind storms and disasters and the agricultural sector.
- Worked to reduce the cost of living for farmers and consumers, including seeking reform for H2A and H2B visas to ensure reliable, legal labor on farms and ranches.
- Sought out and eliminating waste, fraud, and abuse in all USDA programs, including improper payments, SNAP fraud, and woke programs that don’t put Farmers First. Woke programs include a climate slush fund and funding to schools that violate Title IX and endanger women and girls.
- Led major steps to Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) through reforming SNAP and nutrition education services. The MAHA movement at USDA has also supported major voluntary changes to make food healthier.
- Took leadership to make rural America prosper again by reducing regulations and revitalizing communities.
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Secretary Rollins and Secretary Kennedy Visit Texas to Meet with Farmers Who Are Making America Healthy Again and Utilizing Stewardship Practices, Secretary Rollins Provides Update on New World Screwworm
Washington, D.C., April 29, 2025 - U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins visited Texas with U.S. Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to discuss food security and learn how America’s farmers are working to Make America Healthy Again. During the visit, Secretary Rollins met at the Texas A&M Beef Center to provide an update on the status of the New World Screwworm. Secretary Rollins and Secretary Kennedy visited cutting-edge laboratories at the Texas A&M Norman E. Borlaug Building, received a briefing on the Grand Nutrition Challenge at the Institute for Advancing Health Through Agriculture. The Secretaries then toured the Automated Precision Phenotyping Greenhouse in addition to touring the fourth-generation Sawyer Farms who are utilizing stewardship practices to ensure healthy production of a robust barley, rye, corn, and wheat crop.
“Making America Healthy Again starts with supporting America’s farmers and ranchers. In Texas, I was joined by Secretary Kennedy to do just that. At USDA, I am negotiating with Mexico to stop the spread of invasive species like the New World Screwworm, and Secretary Kennedy and I are working together to ensure that our kids and families are consuming the healthiest food produced in the U.S.A.,” said Secretary Rollins.
“It was an honor to join Secretary Rollins in her home state of Texas,” said Secretary Kennedy. “Together, HHS and USDA are taking on the chronic disease epidemic by fixing our broken food system and giving families the tools they need to eat well, stay healthy, and Make America Healthy Again.”
Over the weekend, Secretary Rollins sent a letter to her counterpart in Mexico demanding Mexico eliminate impediments on aircraft operations and landings that are critically impairing the U.S. response to combat the ongoing spread of the New World Screwworm across Mexico, thereby preventing it from entering the United States. Secretary Rollins also announced a major win for American agriculture yesterday by securing the agreement of the Mexican government to meet the current water needs of farmers and ranchers in Texas as part of the 1944 Water Treaty. The Mexican government committed to transfer water from international reservoirs and increase the U.S. share of the flow in six of Mexico’s Rio Grande tributaries through the end of the current five-year water cycle. While negotiations were ongoing with Mexico, Secretary Rollins announced a $280 million grant agreement between the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) to provide critical economic relief to eligible Rio Grande Valley farmers and producers suffering from Mexico’s ongoing failure to meet its water delivery obligations under the 1944 Water Treaty. In the first 100 days of the Trump Administration, Secretary Rollins has affirmed the bold leadership of President Donald J. Trump by supporting America First Policies.
At the direction of President Trump, USDA and HHS are ensuring programs work harder to encourage healthy eating and lifestyle habits. As part of the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) Commission led by Secretary Kennedy, this work will not only research and report the many reasons children face unbelievable rates of diet-related disease like obesity and diabetes but also how government can implement change through things like revised dietary policy, state innovation, and less regulation. The visit to Texas A&M Institute for Advancing Health Through Agriculture (IHA) included amplifying the HHS and USDA commitment to a timely and consumer-facing Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA). On March 11, 2025, after the inaugural meeting of the Make America Healthy Again Commission, Secretary Rollins and Secretary Kennedy announced a commitment to a final DGA no later than Dec. 31, 2025. Secretary Rollins has taken major steps to Make America Healthy Again through encouraging states to reform SNAP and nutrition education services. The MAHA movement at USDA has also supported major voluntary changes to make food healthier, including applauding the dairy industry for voluntarily removing artificial colors from the National School Lunch Program.
Earlier today, USDA introduced funding for the Marketing Assistance for Specialty Crops (MASC) program to assist specialty crop growers with rising input costs and aide in the expansion of domestic markets. This would support Texas producers as they grow fruits, vegetables, and tree nuts and other specialty crops to Make America Healthy Again. USDA has also awarded over $521 million to 19,675 farmers in Texas through the Emergency Commodity Assistance Program (ECAP) for the 2024 crop year.
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Sample newsletter blurb for organizations (e.g., schools, food banks, advocacy groups) working with families with children who qualify for Summer EBT/SUN Bucks.
SUN Bucks is a proven game-changer in the fight against child hunger.
Sample scripts for informing families about SUN Bucks/Summer EBT.