The White House is set to correct mistakes in a controversial report led by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. This report, part of the "Make America Healthy Again" initiative, has raised eyebrows due to its claims about America’s food supply, pesticides, and prescription drugs.
Released last week, the report referenced hundreds of studies. However, a review by the news organization NOTUS found that some of these studies either do not exist or were misrepresented. This has led to concerns about the credibility of the report’s findings.
During a press briefing, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt acknowledged the issues. She stated that formatting errors would be fixed and the report would be updated. However, she emphasized that these mistakes do not undermine the report’s overall message, which she described as one of the most significant health assessments from the federal government.
Kennedy has promised to bring transparency and high-quality science to public health discussions. Yet, he has not disclosed who wrote the 72-page report. It suggests that the current childhood vaccine schedule needs more scrutiny and claims that many children are overmedicated and undernourished.
Despite the report’s problems, the White House expressed full confidence in Kennedy and his work. HHS spokesman Andrew Nixon described the report as a crucial assessment of the health issues facing American children.
NOTUS’s investigation revealed that at least seven of the over 500 studies cited in the report were never published. Some researchers confirmed that they had not authored the studies listed. The report’s citations included topics like children’s screen time and medication use, which were also misinterpreted.
Kennedy’s report has stirred unease among some Trump supporters, particularly farmers who take issue with how the report characterizes agricultural chemicals. The findings are intended to inform future policy recommendations, for which the White House is seeking an additional $500 million in funding from Congress to support Kennedy’s initiative.