President Donald J. Trump has signed an executive order establishing the “Make America Healthy Again” (MAHA) Commission, a sweeping initiative aimed at addressing the nation’s growing health crisis, particularly the rise in chronic diseases among children and adults.
The commission will focus on identifying the root causes of chronic illnesses, improving public health policies, and promoting healthier lifestyles to reverse alarming health trends in the United States.
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The order, issued on Thursday, highlights the urgent need to address the declining health of Americans, who lag behind other developed nations in life expectancy and face disproportionately high rates of chronic diseases such as cancer, diabetes, obesity, and mental health disorders.
The executive order paints a stark picture of America’s health challenges. Pre-COVID-19, U.S. life expectancy averaged 78.8 years, nearly four years shorter than the average in comparable countries. Chronic diseases affect six in 10 Americans, with four in 10 suffering from two or more chronic conditions. Mental health disorders are also on the rise, with one in five adults living with a mental illness.
The crisis is particularly acute among children. In 2022, an estimated 30 million children (40.7%) had at least one health condition, such as allergies, asthma, or autoimmune diseases. Autism spectrum disorder now affects 1 in 36 children, a dramatic increase from rates of 1 to 4 out of 10,000 in the 1980s. Additionally, 18% of late adolescents and young adults have fatty liver disease, nearly 30% are prediabetic, and over 40% are overweight or obese.
“These health burdens have continued to increase alongside the increased prescription of medication,” the order states. “This poses a dire threat to the American people and our way of life.”
The MAHA Commission, chaired by the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and led by the Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy, will bring together top officials from across the federal government to tackle the health crisis. Key members include the Secretaries of Agriculture, Education, Veterans Affairs, and Housing and Urban Development, as well as the heads of the Environmental Protection Agency, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
The commission’s initial focus will be on addressing childhood chronic diseases, with a mandate to:
- Study the scope and causes of the crisis, including diet, environmental factors, medical treatments, and government policies.
- Advise the president on informing the public about the crisis using transparent and clear facts.
- Provide government-wide recommendations on policies and strategies to end childhood chronic disease.
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The commission will deliver two critical reports within its first six months:
- Make Our Children Healthy Again Assessment: Within 100 days, the commission will submit a comprehensive assessment of childhood chronic diseases in the U.S., including comparisons to other countries, the impact of medications and environmental exposures, and the effectiveness of existing federal programs.
- Make Our Children Healthy Again Strategy: Within 180 days, the commission will develop a strategy to restructure the federal government’s response to the crisis, ending ineffective practices and implementing powerful new solutions.
The commission will also prioritize transparency in health research, ensuring that federally funded studies are free from conflicts of interest and that data is openly accessible to the public.
The executive order emphasizes the need for innovative approaches to public health, including:
- Promoting healthier diets and lifestyles.
- Reducing over-reliance on medications and treatments.
- Addressing environmental factors and food safety.
- Ensuring that the healthcare system prioritizes prevention over disease management.
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“To fully address the growing health crisis in America, we must re-direct our national focus, in the public and private sectors, toward understanding and drastically lowering chronic disease rates,” the order states.
The MAHA Commission represents a significant shift in how the federal government approaches public health. By focusing on prevention and root causes, the initiative aims to reduce healthcare costs, improve quality of life, and strengthen national security. Notably, 77% of young adults are currently ineligible for military service due to health issues, highlighting the far-reaching consequences of the crisis.
Critics may question the feasibility of the commission’s ambitious goals, but supporters argue that a coordinated, data-driven approach is essential to reversing the nation’s health decline.
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