RFK Jr. ‘MAHA Commission’ has first meeting, behind closed doors
A new commission led by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has been convened, bringing together federal government officials and “Make America Healthy Again” moms in an effort to address the nation’s chronic health issues. The meeting, which took place in Washington on Tuesday, was the first of its kind and was not publicly announced beforehand.
The MAHA commission includes domestic policy advisers, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, and Education Secretary Linda McMahon, among others. Key leaders from the FDA, CDC, and NIH are also part of the commission, although Trump’s picks for these roles have yet to be confirmed.
Kennedy has the authority to invite other members of the Trump administration to participate in the meetings. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, Kennedy adviser Vani Hari, and Trump counselor Alina Habba were in attendance at the recent meeting, described as “MAHA moms” by Kennedy ally Calley Means.
The commission’s focus will be on studying potential contributors to childhood chronic disease, including factors such as diet, exposure to toxic materials, medical treatments, lifestyle choices, environmental influences, government policies, and corporate influence. Within 100 days, the commission is expected to deliver an initial assessment of chronic disease prevalence, treatment, and research. Within 180 days, a MAHA strategy will be presented to Trump, outlining recommendations to improve health outcomes.
The establishment of this commission fulfills a promise made by Trump during his campaign to investigate the causes of chronic diseases in the nation. Kennedy, in his confirmation hearings, pledged to increase transparency within his agency. However, the closed-door nature of the MAHA commission meeting has raised concerns about transparency at the Department of Health and Human Services.
In recent weeks, Kennedy has discontinued the practice of involving the public in HHS business, prompting criticism from public access watchdogs and patient advocacy groups. Despite these challenges, the MAHA commission is moving forward with its mission to address and solve the nation’s chronic health issues.
