President Trump has signed an executive order creating the Make America Healthy Again Commission, chaired by the recently confirmed Health and Human Services Secretary, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. This commission aims to tackle the growing health challenges facing the nation, initially focusing on chronic illnesses in children.
The commission's mandate includes investigating the underlying causes of America's health crisis and proposing solutions. It will hold public forums and gather input from health experts to rebuild public trust in medical and scientific institutions. Four key policy directives will guide the commission's work: increasing transparency in federally funded health research to minimize conflicts of interest; prioritizing high-quality research into the causes of illness; collaborating with farmers to ensure access to nutritious and affordable food; and broadening healthcare coverage and treatment options for lifestyle changes and preventative care.
The commission's initial focus will be on childhood chronic diseases like autism and fatty liver disease, while also examining adult chronic conditions such as asthma. It will also analyze the U.S. life expectancy in comparison to other countries.
Within 100 days, the commission is expected to release a report summarizing current knowledge and outstanding questions regarding childhood chronic diseases, including international comparisons. A comprehensive strategy to improve children's health, based on the report's findings, is expected within 180 days.
The "Make America Healthy Again" initiative was a central theme of the Trump-Kennedy campaign. The commission will investigate chronic conditions in both adults and children, including autism, which currently affects an estimated one in 36 children.
In recent months, President Trump has highlighted the rise in autism diagnoses, expressing concern about the significant increase compared to 25 years ago. He and Kennedy have pledged to investigate the reasons behind this trend. Trump has also committed to forming a commission independent of pharmaceutical industry influence to investigate the broader increase in chronic illnesses.
The Senate confirmed Kennedy's appointment with a 52-48 vote. During his confirmation hearings, Kennedy addressed concerns about his stance on vaccines, clarifying that he is not "anti-vaccine" and emphasizing the importance of vaccines in healthcare. He stated that all his children are vaccinated and reiterated his support for the role of vaccines.
