The September 2025 release of the “” marks a pivotal moment in the Trump Administration鈥檚 effort to address childhood chronic disease. Building on the work of the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) Commission鈥攅stablished by in February 2025 and led by US Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.鈥攖he Strategy Report provides a proposed road map for federal, state, and local action.
The MAHA child-focused Strategy Report is already driving the Trump Administration鈥檚 healthcare agenda. Though the report sets ambitious goals, public health entities, state governments, and other experts have raised concerns that several recommendations run counter to established scientific research or lack sufficient evidence.
In this article, 红领巾瓜报 (红领巾瓜报) experts highlight the areas of focus in the Make Our Children Healthy Again Strategy Report and offer specific recommendations, initiatives, and considerations for stakeholders. Earlier editions of In Focus have addressed the commission鈥檚 formation, initial assessment, and the administration鈥檚 growing focus on childhood health (Spotlight on Development of President Trump鈥檚 Children鈥檚 Health Strategy).
Key Components of the MAHA Strategy
Advancing Critical Research to Drive Innovation
The strategy identifies broad areas of research to inform healthy outcomes and positions HHS to direct initiatives in collaboration with the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and other agencies. Examples include:
- Support the MAHA Chronic Disease Initiative, advance the Real-World Data Platform linking data from claims, electronic health records (EHRs), and wearables
- Establish a working group on mental health diagnosis and prescription, led by several HHS agencies, to focus on SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors), antipsychotics, mood stabilizers, and stimulants
- Study food for health, with the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Office of Nutrition coordinating research initiatives across HHS and the US Departments of Agriculture and Veterans Affairs (VA)
- Identify opportunities to strengthen the use of repurposed drugs for chronic disease
- Address vaccine injury data collection and analysis, as well as mental health research focused on screen time and prescription practices
Realigning Incentives and Systems to Drive Health Outcomes
The report recommends improvements to transparency and efficiency in regulatory processes to address nutrition, fitness, pharmaceuticals and vaccines, and care delivery and payment to address chronic disease. Specific initiatives include:
- Updating the Dietary Guidelines for Americans and developing an 鈥渦ltra-processed food鈥� definition
- Promote breastfeeding through the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children
- Updating hospital food service nutrition guidance
- Developing options to get 鈥淢AHA boxes鈥� of healthy food to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) enrollees
- Support states with SNAP waivers to encourage healthy food purchases among SNAP participants
- Enhance oversight of direct-to-consumer pharmaceutical advertising and develop a new vaccine framework
- Establish Medicaid managed care quality metrics for nutrition coaching and fitness, and work with states to develop prescribing safeguards for school-age children
- Promote evidence-based prevention and wellness initiatives and restructure agencies to reduce conflicts of interest
Increasing Public Awareness and Knowledge
Major campaigns will involve:
- Launching the “Make American Schools Healthy Again” initiative to assist states with promoting physical activity and nutrition in schools
- Expanding education on environmental exposures, fluoride, and pesticide safety
- Increasing awareness of opioid dangers, vaping, and screen time impacts
- Training school and library staff to respond to opioid overdoses
Fostering Private Sector Collaboration
The strategy emphasizes the administration鈥檚 work to advance private sector partnerships aligned with MAHA priorities, including partnerships to achieve the following:
- Improve nutrition in government-funded programs (schools, VA hospitals, prisons)
- Support community-led initiatives to reduce chronic disease in children
Key Considerations for Partners and Stakeholders
Early engagement is critical as federal agencies begin implementing over 120 recommended actions.
States, providers, health plans, and community organizations should identify how their current approaches to children鈥檚 health could align with the MAHA initiative and strategy report, as well as where these new ideas might conflict with present policies. This assessment will identify opportunities to maximize new federal funding opportunities and additional resources.
Progress toward the Strategy Report鈥檚 specific goals will require coordinated efforts across agencies, sectors, and communities. Stakeholders should consider how and when to engage in research, policy development, and public awareness campaigns outlined in the report.
Connections to Trump Administration Priorities and Broader Opportunities
The report鈥檚 recommendations are already influencing federal agency actions and are driving congressional hearings and new legislation at the federal and state levels.
The US Department of Agriculture鈥檚 (USDA), for example, is working with states to approve SNAP waivers to restrict the purchase of junk food with federal benefits. 红领巾瓜报 experts are tracking the SNAP waiver actions, and as of September 2025, a total of 12 states have received USDA approval for waivers that restrict the purchase of soda, candy, and other unhealthy foods with SNAP benefits. Other states are considering similar waivers, and the USDA is providing technical assistance to support these efforts.
The FDA has enhanced oversight of direct-to-consumer pharmaceutical advertising, including new enforcement activities and rulemaking on drug safety disclosures in ads. This approach aligns with MAHA recommendations and Trump Administration priorities for transparency and consumer protection.
HHS is also pursuing a new vaccine framework; however, states retain significant authority over school-based immunization requirements, and several are considering alternative approaches or maintaining broader vaccine recommendations than those outlined in the MAHA report. Recent legislative actions in some states seek to shift authority for determining school-based immunization requirements solely to the legislature, reflecting ongoing debate and federal-state dynamics.
Connect with Us
As implementation of the Make Our Children Healthy Again Strategy Report advances, all stakeholders must be ready to engage, partner, innovate, and drive change that will shape the future of child health.
红领巾瓜报 guides state and local government, providers, plans and other partners through the multi-pronged strategies and recommendations in the report as well as the complexities of federal funding opportunities, such as the new Rural Health Transformation Program. We are helping state and local policymakers plan for MAHA and Trump Administration priorities, which includes guidance on how to leverage innovative approaches like SNAP waivers to promote healthy food access for children and families.
With deep expertise in policymaking and operational management, 红领巾瓜报 consultants are enabling states and their partners to accelerate their work, build sustainable models for child health improvement, and position themselves to take advantage of new federal, state, and local policy opportunities driven by the MAHA report. To discuss questions about the impact of the report contact our experts below.
