One year after Robert F. Kennedy Jr. coined “Make America Healthy Again” at a 2024 Arizona rally backing Donald Trump, the anti-establishment health crusade has grown into a national force shaping federal and state policy. Since Kennedy’s confirmation as health and human services secretary in February, food companies have agreed to eliminate synthetic dyes, several states have barred soda purchases with Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program funds, and an Operation Stork Speed plan aims to stabilise infant-formula supplies. The movement’s rapid ascent is matched by mounting friction. Internal documents reviewed by STAT show many flagship promises—such as a coordinated chronic-disease agency and tougher nutrition standards—remain unfunded or delayed, while tens of thousands of HHS jobs were trimmed in cost-cutting drives. Advisers acknowledge MAHA is now a litmus test ahead of the 2026 midterm elections, yet insiders complain the coalition is splintering over pesticides, benefit cuts and the pace of regulatory change. Kennedy’s most contentious moves centre on vaccines. In August he revoked COVID-19 shot recommendations for healthy children and pregnant women, dismissed the entire CDC vaccine-advisory panel and halted US$500 million in mRNA-vaccine contracts. He is also weighing revisions to the Vaccine Injury Compensation Program that manufacturers warn could expose them to open-ended liability and push key products off the market. The American Academy of Pediatrics, public-health scholars and biotech executives say the strategy risks shortages and further erodes confidence in immunisation amid record US measles cases. Tensions culminated on 27 August when CDC director Susan Monarez resigned barely a month into the post after objecting to Kennedy’s reshuffle of vaccine advisers. Her departure follows a shooting at CDC headquarters by a gunman claiming vaccine injury and an employee letter urging the secretary to curb misinformation. HHS has yet to outline metrics for success or release promised conflict-of-interest data on new advisers. With MAHA entering its second year, supporters cite early policy wins and a sweeping public-relations campaign. Critics counter that secrecy, staffing upheaval and vaccine rollbacks threaten the movement’s credibility and public health itself. Whether Kennedy can translate populist momentum into durable health gains now hinges on his ability to deliver results without upending the nation’s immunisation infrastructure.
RFK Jr’s HHS is going to have an earth shattering scandal at some point. It’s like watching a ticking time bomb and waiting for it to explode.
RFKjr is a menace, hellbent on his lifelong mission to undermine vaccines “The director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention abruptly left after just a month in her job. Susan Monarez, the director, apparently ran afoul of Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. over https://t.co/QYMDVuE3jy
Kennedy can do a lot of damage to vaccine manufacturers without any change in law. This is how he might do it: https://t.co/KAUsGLWfpo