Kennedy's Public-Health Crusade Becomes a High-Stakes Tug-of-War in Washington

RFK Jr., sworn in as Trump’s health secretary, launched the Make America Healthy Again commission to tackle children’s health and nutrition, but faces fierce pushback from farmers, Republicans, and industry groups. The May report singled out ultraprocessed foods and pesticides like glyphosate, triggering lobbying pressure and tense meetings with lawmakers; subsequent reports largely avoided pesticides to mollify allies. Kennedy’s vaccine-policy moves—reducing recommended vaccines and reshaping FDA oversight—have sparked lawsuits, partisan based pushback, and leadership upheaval within HHS and FDA, signaling that much of his agenda may be rolled back by future administrations or Congress. The result is a precarious balance: impactful but reversible policy wins amid a deep partisan rift over public health, industry influence, and regulatory reform.