A new White House report on childhood health, led by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., is stirring tension between farmers, Republican lawmakers, and the Biden administration just days before its release.
The report, part of the “Make America Healthy Again” (MAHA) initiative, aims to examine how U.S. lifestyles — including children’s medications and school meals — contribute to rising rates of obesity, depression, and attention deficit disorder. President Donald Trump had ordered the review within his first 100 days in office. It is expected to be released Thursday.
A major point of concern is how the report will address glyphosate — a common ingredient in pesticides used on American crops. Farmers and Republicans fear the commission could call for restrictions, potentially hurting agricultural yields. Kennedy, however, has denied that the report will negatively affect farmers.
Speaking on the Senate floor Wednesday, Senator Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) said farmers have contacted him, upset that they had no opportunity to contribute to the report.
“I hope there is nothing in the MAHA report that jeopardizes the food supply or the livelihood of farmers,” Grassley said.
In April, 79 Republican lawmakers, including several from farm states, sent a letter to Kennedy warning that limits on glyphosate and other chemicals could reduce productivity in agriculture.
Farmers argue glyphosate is a vital tool for weed control. It helps reduce the need for tilling, saving soil and fuel. “There’s a reason why we still use it: it works,” said Blake Hurst, a Missouri farmer and former president of the Missouri Farm Bureau.
Kennedy’s long career as an environmental attorney includes lawsuits against the maker of Roundup, a weedkiller that contains glyphosate. The World Health Organization has classified glyphosate as a probable human carcinogen.
On Wednesday, Kennedy received a letter from 360 MAHA supporters urging the commission to hold the chemical industry accountable. Signatories included farmers, former campaign staff, and members of his nonprofit organization. They warned that “evidence is piling up” linking pesticide exposure to health risks.
Dave Murphy, a fundraiser for Kennedy’s failed presidential campaign, said he submitted research on pesticides to White House officials but noted that pressure is building around how the report handles the issue.
During a Senate hearing Wednesday, Kennedy rejected claims from Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.) that the report would unfairly blame farmers.
“There’s not a single word in them that should worry the American farmer,” Kennedy said. “We are not going to do anything to jeopardize that business model.”
Kennedy was appearing before the Senate Appropriations Committee to discuss the administration’s proposed budget, which includes $500 million for the MAHA initiative. However, the same budget proposes cuts to infectious disease prevention, maternal health, and medical research.
In February, President Trump signed an executive order creating the MAHA Commission. It was tasked with examining how prescription drugs, chemicals, and food ingredients affect children’s health. The commission includes Kennedy, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, FDA Commissioner Marty Makary, and NIH Director Jay Bhattacharya.
Despite Kennedy’s pledge of “radical transparency,” the commission never held a public meeting. The White House only released short, edited clips from a closed-door meeting held in March.
A White House spokesperson called the report a “historic step” but offered no further details.
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