Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Announces Major Reforms in U.S. Health Policy

In a series of groundbreaking announcements, U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has unveiled significant reforms aimed at overhauling the nation's health policies. These initiatives encompass dietary guidelines, research funding, and a focus on ultra-processed foods, signaling a transformative shift in America's approach to public health.

**Streamlined Dietary Guidelines**

Health Secretary Kennedy revealed that >new U.S. dietary guidelines will be released before August 2025. These guidelines will be significantly condensed to just four pages, emphasizing the importance of consuming whole foods. This initiative is part of Kennedy’s broader effort to reform America’s food system, despite his department's limited authority over food policy, which is primarily managed by the Department of Agriculture (USDA). The current dietary guidelines span 160 pages and are updated every five years. Kennedy has received support from Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins and President Donald Trump, particularly in efforts to eliminate synthetic food dyes and revamp nutrition standards. The Biden administration had begun drafting the new guidelines, which must be finalized by the end of the year. Kennedy criticized the previous administration’s scientific advisory report for being too influenced by the food industry. In addition to the new guidelines, Kennedy stated that the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) will investigate food additives and consider labeling requirements indicating their presence in packaging. ([reuters.com](

**Focus on Ultra-Processed Foods**

In a related development, Health Secretary Kennedy announced that the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will prioritize research on ultra-processed foods, sugars, and the approximately 10,000 additives found in the American food supply. He made this statement during a Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor & Pensions hearing, highlighting the growing concern about the impacts of these substances on public health. This strategic focus aims to better understand how such food components contribute to health issues and to inform future regulatory actions and public health initiatives. ([reuters.com](

**Criticism of Proposed Research Funding Cuts**

However, these ambitious plans face challenges. Journalist and health advocate Katie Couric strongly criticized the Trump administration's proposed cuts to health research funding, calling them "unfathomable and unbelievable." Couric emphasized that nearly all new FDA-approved therapeutics from 2010 to 2019 were developed with some support from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), underscoring the importance of sustained public investment in medical research. The administration’s 2026 budget proposal includes nearly $18 billion in cuts to the NIH and over $3.5 billion in cuts to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which Couric warned would have severe consequences, including job losses and setbacks in research and PhD programs. Known for her long-standing advocacy for cancer screenings and public health, Couric described the budget reductions as "chilling" and "devastating," highlighting the urgent need to protect scientific progress and public health infrastructure. ([axios.com](

**A Call for Reform**

These developments underscore a broader push within the current administration to overhaul and bring transformative change to America’s medical system. While the proposed reforms aim to address critical issues such as dietary habits and research funding, they also highlight the ongoing debates and challenges in shaping the future of U.S. health policy.