U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Brooke L. Rollins held their first Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) event at Ferdinand T. Day Elementary School in Alexandria, Virginia. The event involved interacting with students during a healthy snack time and engaging with the school’s staff. The meeting emphasized the impact of federally funded nutrition programs on children and aimed to fortify the collaboration between the two departments to promote a healthier America.
“Secretary Kennedy and I have a unique once-in-a-generation opportunity to better align our vision on nutrition-related programs to ensure we are working together to advance President Trump’s vision to make our kids, our families, and our communities healthy again,” said Secretary Rollins. She mentioned that the agricultural sector plays a vital role in addressing the country’s health issues, emphasizing the importance of providing healthy food options.
Secretary Kennedy reinforced these sentiments, showing commitment to President Trump’s mandate. “Secretary Rollins and I are committed to working together to fulfill President Trump’s mandate to Make America Healthy Again,” he stated. He acknowledged the support from Virginia Governor Youngkin and encouraged other governors to promote similar legislative efforts, such as banning ultra-processed foods and removing soda from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
The MAHA initiative, guided by President Trump’s directives, aims to enhance programs that foster healthier eating and lifestyle habits. As explained by Secretary Kennedy, the initiative involves researching and addressing the causes of diet-related diseases like obesity and diabetes. This effort is the beginning of ongoing cooperation between the HHS and USDA to influence public health positively in the U.S.
