U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Agriculture Secretary Rollins said they are supporting state requests for waivers that would bar the purchase of sugary drinks and other ultra-processed products with Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits. The officials described the shift from “food quantity to food quality” as the initial phase of a broader push to curb diet-related disease and “Make America Healthy Again.” Kennedy separately announced an outright ban on thimerosal, a mercury-based preservative, from all vaccines licensed in the United States and rescinded federal guidance that had required COVID-19 vaccination for many medical staff. He said the steps would reduce unnecessary toxin exposure and end what he called “back-door mandates.” Medical groups that oppose vaccine requirements praised the moves, while immunization experts warned they could erode public confidence in routine shots. A Kaiser Family Foundation survey released this month found only 37 percent of U.S. adults trust Kennedy as a source of vaccine information, underscoring the political and scientific divisions surrounding his policy agenda.