Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and the Trump administration are facing growing criticism from within the "Make America Healthy Again" (MAHA) movement, as a new scorecard released by activists claims the administration has failed to deliver on more than 85% of its promises regarding food, agriculture, and environmental health.
The scorecard, produced by former members of Kennedy’s 2024 presidential campaign, including former fundraiser Dave Murphy and former chief speechwriter Charles Eisenstein, accuses the administration of prioritizing the chemical industry over the movement's core goals. The report highlights the approval of new pesticides and the hiring of industry lobbyists as evidence of this shift.
What the Right Is Saying
White House officials and Kennedy loyalists defend the administration's record, asserting that significant progress has been made on the MAHA agenda. White House spokeswoman Allison Schuster stated that the administration "has already secured extensive victories for the MAHA Agenda," including overhauling federal dietary guidelines and removing artificial ingredients from the food supply. "After years of being on the political sidelines, the MAHA coalition has found a champion in President Trump, who has made incredible strides to Make America Healthy Again," Schuster said.
Emily Hilliard, a spokesperson for the Department of Health and Human Services, noted that Kennedy "remains focused on delivering lasting reforms grounded in science, transparency, and accountability," adding that the administration has moved at a "historic pace" over the past 20 months. Some activists, such as Kelly Ryerson, known as "Glyphosate Girl," distinguish between Kennedy and the broader cabinet, stating they know "where his heart lies" but criticizing the administration's actions as working "in opposition to everything that we hoped."
What the Left Is Saying
Critics within the MAHA coalition, who largely identify with progressive or populist health causes, argue that the Trump administration has betrayed the movement's foundational principles. Tiffany Cianci, a former Kennedy campaign adviser and author of the scorecard, stated that the administration has shown "a blatant slap in the face" to basic promises. "We’re asking the Trump administration to deliver on even the most basic promises they’ve made to the MAHA movement, and we’ve seen over and over again not just a lack of interest in doing so," Cianci said.
Peter Lurie, president of the Center for Science in the Public Interest, described the situation as a "gaping fissure" in a coalition that was already vulnerable due to its unusual mix of liberal environmentalists, vaccine skeptics, and anti-corporate conservatives. Lurie noted that Kennedy "never took into account the practical aspects on the ground" regarding regulatory authority and enforcement.
What the Numbers Show
According to the scorecard released by MAHA activists, the Trump administration broke more than 85% of its promises related to food, agriculture, and environmental health. The report focuses heavily on actions by the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Agriculture, agencies that Kennedy does not oversee, citing weakened mercury emissions standards and rolled-back drinking water limits for PFAS.
An April poll by KFF found that 41% of U.S. adults support MAHA ideals, with the majority identifying as Republicans or Republican-leaning independents. A March poll by Politico indicated that key priorities for self-identified MAHA supporters include removing ultra-processed foods from diets and limiting exposure to PFAS, microplastics, and pesticides. The scorecard notes that while the FDA has asked companies to voluntarily phase out certain dyes and banned two others, it has not removed existing additives or prevented new ones from being added under current "generally recognized as safe" rules.
The Bottom Line
The divergence between MAHA activists and the Trump administration highlights the fragility of the coalition that helped propel Kennedy’s political influence and Trump’s 2024 election win. While Kennedy retains influence over vaccine policy—where he has successfully reduced universally recommended vaccines for children despite legal challenges—his ability to enforce food safety and environmental regulations is limited by his jurisdiction over the Department of Health and Human Services alone. Activists like Ryerson suggest that this disillusionment may impact midterm election turnout, with some supporters planning to sit out the vote due to "raw" disappointment. The administration maintains that its regulatory changes, such as the January dietary guidelines overhaul, represent fundamental change, while critics argue these measures are insufficient against the entrenched interests of the chemical and food industries.