Robert F. Kennedy Jr. just stepped into the role of U.S. health secretary, and he’s already making waves. His mission? To tackle America’s chronic illness crisis with the full backing of President Donald Trump. From cracking down on food additives to investigating vaccine safety, Kennedy’s agenda is ambitious—but it might collide head-on with sweeping government spending cuts.
A Bold Health Agenda Backed by Trump
On day one, Trump launched the "Make America Healthy Again" Commission, stacking it with Kennedy and other key officials. Their job? To dig into skyrocketing autism and asthma rates, the over-prescription of ADHD meds, and more.
Kennedy, 71, isn’t here to play it safe. He’s calling for radical transparency—opening government data, funding new vaccine research, and using AI to bridge gaps in rural healthcare. He’s also going after the food industry, a move that puts him toe-to-toe with the FDA, one of the many agencies buried within the $3 trillion Health and Human Services department.
Regulations vs. Budget Cuts
Meanwhile, Republicans are on a mission to shrink the federal workforce. Case in point: The CDC is reportedly cutting about 10% of its probationary staff, according to the Associated Press. And that raises a big question—can Kennedy actually pull off his reforms if key experts are getting the boot? Dan Troy, former FDA Chief Counsel, isn’t convinced. “If you fire the people who know how to get regulations passed, nothing’s going to change,” he said.
And then there’s Medicaid. Insiders say the administration is planning targeted cuts to free up cash. That could be bad news for millions of low-income families—but Kennedy’s supporters argue there’s a silver lining. If Medicaid, Medicare, and Obamacare get trimmed, Kennedy might have room to push for better nutrition, exercise, and community health initiatives.
Brian Blasé, president of the Trump-aligned Paragon Health Institute, put it bluntly: “We’re wasting too much money on low-value health programs. Time to redirect those funds.”
But not everyone’s convinced Kennedy can toe the party line. Harvard professor Ameet Sarpatwari says tension is inevitable. Even Joseph Antos from the conservative American Enterprise Institute sees potential clashes. “The real fight will be between Kennedy’s personal priorities and the White House’s agenda,” he said.
Data, Food, and Independence: Kennedy’s Big Play
Kennedy’s long-time allies have their wish list ready. They want full transparency on medical and food safety data, a crackdown on ultra-processed food in schools, and a health department free from corporate influence.
Tony Lyons, co-chair of American Values PAC, summed it up: “We need total transparency. Every study used to approve medical products, food additives, and preservatives should be public. The U.S. has the sickest kids in the industrialized world—it’s time to figure out why.”
Scott Faber, a senior VP at the Environmental Working Group, says the FDA has an easy win: Close the loophole that lets companies self-regulate food ingredients. “If this administration is serious about making America healthier, shutting down chemical companies’ self-approval process should be step one,” he said.
One thing notably missing from Kennedy’s first-day priorities? Abortion policy. Despite his past comments about reviewing the safety of abortion drug mifepristone, Trump’s executive order didn’t mention it. But conservative heavyweights behind Project 2025—a policy roadmap for the administration—have made it clear: They want abortion pills banned and Medicaid funding pulled from pro-choice states.
So, can Kennedy juggle it all?
A sweeping health agenda, government downsizing, and political landmines at every turn? One thing’s for sure—his tenure is going to be anything but boring.