Commentary
Introduction
As the former Deputy Assistant Secretary for Health in the first Trump administration, I’ve seen the inner workings of the bureaucratic behemoth known as the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). In today’s environment, where President Trump and Secretary Kennedy seek to disrupt the public health status quo, it is often hard to decipher the partisan rhetoric and understand what is actually happening.Given this, in follow-up to my conversation with American Thought Leaders’ Jan Jekielek about Secretary Kennedy’s first days in office, the gracious editors at Epoch have offered me a weekly space to recap health policy and political issues—with a little bit of side commentary for why they are important.
The Issues of the Week
Last week, Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. took decisive steps to reorient America’s healthcare system toward transparency, prevention, and accountability. Kennedy’s actions—probing autism’s rise, championing nutrition, curbing Big Pharma’s sway, and exposing COVID-19 failures—offer a refreshing vision for a patient-first future. Here’s why these moves matter.Questioning the Status Quo
Why has autism surged to affect one in 36 children? On April 16, Kennedy boldly raised this question, suggesting environmental toxins like mold or chemicals could play a role. The establishment predictably pushed back, doubling down on “trust the science” rhetoric that’s eroded public confidence. Yet, Kennedy’s pledge to deliver answers by September, leveraging CDC surveillance data to examine all potential factors—including vaccines—is a masterstroke of honest inquiry. Protecting any issue from scrutiny only deepens skepticism. If vaccines are safe, they should withstand open, rigorous debate. By fostering this conversation, Kennedy is working to rebuild trust in a public health system that’s lost its bearings, giving parents clarity instead of cliches.Nutrition as a Cornerstone
With obesity afflicting 40 percent of adults and 20 percent of kids, Kennedy’s focus on nutrition is transformative. During his “Make America Healthy Again” Southwest tour, announced April 4, he spotlighted state-level victories. Utah’s new law seeks a SNAP waiver to ban soda purchases, while Arizona banned ultra-processed foods and harmful dyes in school lunches. These practical policies prioritize whole foods over junk, addressing the chronic disease epidemic at its root. In the Navajo Nation, Kennedy visited a teaching kitchen training medical students to prescribe diet over drugs—a model that could save healthcare costs.But there’s a fine line to tread. Kennedy’s agenda must avoid the “nanny state” pitfalls that doomed Michelle Obama’s school lunch reforms, which many parents and students rejected. Focusing on education and incentives—like subsidies for healthy foods—rather than blanket bans will keep this vision aligned with personal freedom, ensuring broad support.
Taming Big Pharma’s Influence
Big Pharma’s hold on public health weakened last week when FDA Commissioner Marty Makary banned biopharma employees from serving on advisory committees. These panels shape drug approvals and policies, yet for too long, industry insiders with clear conflicts called the shots. Kennedy and Makary’s reform restores objectivity to the FDA, ensuring decisions prioritize patients over profits. Picture this: a heart drug approved because it saves lives, not because its maker stacked the deck. This move sets a new standard for integrity in healthcare regulation.Reckoning With COVID-19
The White House has launched a website exposing the Biden administration’s censorship of COVID-19 origin debates and public health missteps. As someone attacked for retweeting my former boss, Admiral Brett Giroir, on the lab-leak hypothesis, I feel vindicated. President Trump and Secretary Kennedy’s team deserves praise for demanding accountability for lockdowns, mandates, and silenced voices. This transparency ensures we learn from past errors to prevent future overreach, rebuilding faith in institutions that let millions down.Looking Forward
This is just the beginning. I’ll be here weekly, cutting through the noise on health policy with insights from my time in the trenches. Got questions? Post them on X at https://x.com/Dpmansdo or comment below. Let’s keep the conversation honest and fight for a healthier America.Views expressed in this article are opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
