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President Trump Establishes ‘Make America Healthy Again’ Commission to Address Chronic Disease Crisis
By: Fern Sidman
In a bold move to tackle America’s escalating health crisis, President Donald Trump signed an Executive Order on Thursday creating the President’s Make America Healthy Again Commission. This newly formed body, chaired by U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., has been tasked with investigating the root causes behind the nation’s deteriorating health and, more specifically, the alarming rise in childhood chronic diseases.
🚨BREAKING: Full RFK Jr. Victory Speech after being sworn in as America’s newest Health Secretary. Very powerful speech! Must watch🔥 pic.twitter.com/QzLP7fqjD5
— Autism Capital 🧩 (@AutismCapital) February 13, 2025
With a mission centered on transparency, research integrity, and public trust, the Commission aims to shift America’s healthcare paradigm from disease treatment to disease prevention. The initiative highlights Trump’s recognition that the nation’s approach to healthcare has focused more on managing chronic illnesses rather than preventing them, leading to dire economic, public health, and national security consequences.
Chronic diseases have reached unprecedented levels in the United States, with statistics painting a bleak picture of national health. Six in ten adults suffer from at least one chronic illness, while four in ten struggle with multiple conditions. The U.S. also holds the highest age-standardized cancer incidence rate among 204 nations—nearly double that of the second-highest country. Alarmingly, cancer rates in the U.S. have surged by 88% between 1990 and 2021.
Meanwhile, life expectancy in the United States lags behind other developed nations, standing at 78.8 years before COVID-19, compared to 82.6 years in comparable countries. This discrepancy translates to 1.25 billion fewer total life years for Americans—a shocking indicator of the country’s declining health status.
In light of these concerns, the Commission will prioritize childhood chronic diseases, recognizing that the health of the youngest Americans will dictate the long-term well-being of the nation.
A Roadmap to Reversing Chronic Disease
The Make America Healthy Again Commission has been given two major deadlines:
Within 100 days, the Commission will produce an assessment summarizing the state of childhood chronic diseases, identifying knowledge gaps, and including international comparisons.
Within 180 days, it will deliver a strategy to improve children’s health based on its findings, laying the foundation for a new era of preventative medicine.
To achieve these objectives, the Commission has outlined four key policy directives aimed at reversing the chronic disease epidemic:
1. Transparency and Open-Source Data in Health Research
A key concern in the modern healthcare landscape is the influence of corporate interests on federally funded medical research. The Commission will implement safeguards to eliminate conflicts of interest in government-funded health research and will work to make health data more accessible to the public. The goal is to empower Americans with credible, independent, and transparent health information.
2. Prioritizing Root-Cause Research into Chronic Disease
Rather than solely funding research on new pharmaceutical treatments, the federal government will prioritize “gold-standard” research into why Americans are getting sicker in the first place. By addressing fundamental lifestyle and environmental factors—such as diet, pollution, and sedentary behavior—the Commission aims to uncover actionable solutions to curb disease before it develops.
3. Supporting Farmers for a Healthier Food Supply
Recognizing the link between nutrition and disease, the Commission will work with American farmers to ensure that the nation’s food supply is healthy, abundant, and affordable. With obesity, diabetes, and heart disease closely tied to diet, the Commission will encourage agricultural policies that promote nutrient-rich, minimally processed foods rather than subsidizing unhealthy, ultra-processed options.
4. Expanding Preventative Healthcare and Lifestyle-Based Treatments
The Commission will advocate for greater flexibility in health coverage and treatment options that emphasize lifestyle changes, early intervention, and holistic approaches to disease prevention. This shift will move the nation’s healthcare model away from a pharmaceutical-heavy, symptom-focused approach and toward a system that prioritizes prevention, wellness, and sustainable health practices.
Restoring Trust in Medical and Scientific Institutions
Beyond policy reforms, the Make America Healthy Again Commission has a broader mission: restoring public confidence in medical and scientific institutions. Years of conflicting health guidance, industry influence, and the politicization of public health have eroded trust in medical authorities. The Commission plans to hold public hearings, meetings, and roundtables featuring experts from multiple disciplines—ensuring a diverse, fact-based, and open dialogue on health policy.
By including voices from leading doctors, nutritionists, public health officials, environmental scientists, and patient advocates, the Commission will create a more inclusive and transparent decision-making process, ensuring that the interests of the American people—not corporate stakeholders—remain the priority.
The National and Economic Security Implications of Chronic Disease
President Trump’s decision to launch the Commission reflects an understanding that America’s health crisis is not just a medical issue—it’s a national security and economic concern.
Economic Burden: The rising prevalence of chronic disease has placed an unsustainable financial strain on the healthcare system. As medical costs skyrocket, businesses struggle to cover employee healthcare, and government spending on Medicare and Medicaid continues to surge.
Workforce Productivity: The workforce is being weakened by preventable illnesses, leading to lost productivity, higher disability claims, and increased absenteeism in the labor market.
Military Readiness: A shocking percentage of young Americans are unfit for military service due to obesity and chronic illness, raising concerns about national defense preparedness.
By tackling chronic disease at its root, the Commission aims to revitalize the American workforce, reduce healthcare spending, and strengthen national security.
A Nation in Decline: The Harsh Reality of America’s Health Crisis
Despite having one of the most technologically advanced medical systems in the world, the United States is sicker than ever. Chronic disease has exploded in both children and adults, with alarming statistics pointing to an escalating health disaster.
The Childhood Health Epidemic
Childhood is traditionally regarded as the healthiest stage of life, yet American children today are suffering from an increasing array of chronic conditions:
As of 2022, 30 million children (40.7%) had at least one chronic health condition, such as asthma, allergies, or autoimmune diseases.
Autism rates have skyrocketed to 1 in 36 children, a staggering increase from the 1980s when only 1 in 10,000 were diagnosed.
18% of teenagers suffer from fatty liver disease, an illness once confined to alcoholics, signaling a major metabolic health crisis.
Nearly 30% of teenagers are prediabetic, and over 40% are overweight or obese, conditions that were virtually nonexistent in previous generations.
Childhood cancer rates have risen by 0.8% per year since 1975, resulting in a more than 40% increase over 45 years.
These alarming trends suggest that environmental, dietary, and medical factors are playing a role in the widespread deterioration of children’s health—yet very few large-scale investigations have been conducted to understand why these issues are escalating.
Overmedication and the Mental Health Crisis
In addition to rising rates of physical illness, the overmedication of children is another major concern.
More than 3.4 million children are currently prescribed medication for ADD/ADHD, and the number of diagnoses continues to climb.
The United States has seen a sharp increase in mental health issues among young people, with anxiety, depression, and psychiatric disorders contributing to record-high suicide rates among teens.
While pharmaceutical companies profit immensely from the overprescription of drugs, little attention is being paid to potential underlying causes—whether they be nutritional deficiencies, environmental toxins, or societal stressors.
A Nation Unfit for Duty: The Military and Economic Consequences
The chronic disease epidemic is not just a personal health crisis—it is a national security and economic emergency.
77% of young adults are unfit for military service without a waiver, primarily due to obesity, drug use, and physical or mental health conditions.
The United States spends nearly $4.5 trillion per year on healthcare, with 90% of those expenditures going toward chronic and mental health conditions—yet outcomes continue to worsen.
America spends nearly twice as much per capita on healthcare as other wealthy nations, yet it has lower life expectancy and higher rates of chronic illness than almost any other developed country.
These figures point to a broken system—one that benefits pharmaceutical companies, insurance corporations, and hospital networks at the expense of the American people.
President Trump’s Plan: Investigating the Root Causes of Chronic Disease
Recognizing the severity of the crisis, President Trump has pledged to establish a Presidential Commission that will investigate why chronic illnesses have been rising at such an alarming rate. Unlike previous government health initiatives, this Commission will be independent from pharmaceutical and corporate interests and will be tasked with answering the critical questions that have long been ignored.
Trump’s Commitment to a Healthier Future
Throughout his first term, President Trump spearheaded initiatives aimed at improving the nation’s health, lowering medical costs, and increasing healthcare accessibility. Some of his major accomplishments include:
Passed Right to Try, giving terminally ill patients access to experimental and potentially lifesaving treatments.
Signed an executive order to combat kidney disease, increasing transplants and improving treatment options.
Accelerated medical advancements in genetic treatments for sickle cell disease, a major step in targeted healthcare solutions.
Declared the opioid crisis a national public health emergency and signed the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Act, the largest legislative effort in U.S. history to combat drug addiction.
Expanded telehealth services, ensuring greater access to care for rural and underserved communities.
Now, Trump is taking his commitment even further by demanding a comprehensive investigation into the nation’s chronic disease crisis. His plan will involve:
Uncovering the root causes of chronic disease.
Publishing transparent recommendations for how every American child can lead a healthier life.
Challenging the pharmaceutical industry’s stranglehold over medical policy.
Restoring Public Trust in the Medical System
One of the greatest challenges in America’s health crisis is the erosion of public trust in the healthcare system.
Only one-third of Americans trust the U.S. healthcare system, a near-record low.
Many Americans feel they are not receiving honest answers about why chronic illness is rising, why drug costs remain high, and why so many new diseases are emerging.
Trump’s Presidential Commission aims to restore faith in healthcare institutions by ensuring transparency, accountability, and scientific integrity. The Commission will include independent experts, medical researchers, and patient advocates rather than corporate lobbyists and pharmaceutical executives.
A Defining Moment for American Healthcare
President Trump’s Make America Healthy Again initiative represents a crucial turning point in U.S. healthcare policy. By investigating the underlying causes of chronic disease, challenging the pharmaceutical industry’s influence, and prioritizing preventative care, this initiative has the potential to fundamentally reshape the future of American healthcare.
For decades, the U.S. healthcare system has focused on managing disease rather than preventing it. With chronic illness rates skyrocketing, children getting sicker at younger ages, and military readiness declining, inaction is no longer an option.
By placing the health of American families above the interests of corporate lobbyists, Trump’s plan could usher in a new era of medical transparency, affordability, and genuine health solutions. If successful, this initiative will not only help extend American life expectancy but will also restore the nation’s strength, security, and economic vitality.
With the Presidential Commission on Chronic Disease set to launch, the American people will finally get answers—and a healthcare system that prioritizes their well-being over profit.
