Full Breakdown
MAHA Scorecard Says Trump Administration Fell Short on Food-Safety Promises
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Scorecard Findings and Core Discontent
A scorecard released on Thursday by activists of the “Make America Healthy Again” (MAHA) movement—compiled by former Kennedy campaign fundraiser Dave Murphy and former chief speechwriter Charles Eisenstein—accuses the Trump administration of breaking more than 85 percent of the promises made to the coalition on food, agriculture, and environmental health. The document cites the EPA’s weakening of mercury emissions standards, roll-backs of PFAS drinking-water limits, and the issuance of an executive order expanding glyphosate supplies as key failures. It also notes that the FDA’s voluntary phase-out of certain food dyes and a proposed “generally recognized as safe” notification rule were only partially fulfilled. An April poll by the health think tank KFF found that 41 percent of U.S. adults support MAHA ideals, most of them Republicans or Republican-leaning independents.
Background of the MAHA Coalition
MAHA coalesced during Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s 2024 presidential bid and later endorsed President Donald Trump after Kennedy’s endorsement. The movement unites diverse groups—organic-food parents, fringe vaccine-skeptic doctors, and Trump supporters—around goals such as eliminating ultra-processed foods and limiting exposure to PFAS, microplastics, and pesticides, as reflected in a March Politico poll of self-identified members.
Administration’s Official Position
dietary guidelines, removal of artificial ingredients, and investments in regenerative farming.
Criticism from MAHA Advocates
Former Kennedy adviser Tiffany Cianci described the administration’s inaction as “obvious harm” to Kennedy’s reputation, noting a conflict between his historic lawsuits against pharmaceutical and pesticide firms and the current collaboration with those industries. Peter Lurie, president of the Center for Science in the Public Interest, warned that the coalition’s fissure has widened from a “hairline crack” to a “gaping fissure.” Kelly Ryerson, known as “Glyphosate Girl,” placed most blame on the broader cabinet, citing deep corporate influence on regulators that outweighs Kennedy’s personal stance.
Verbatim Quotes
- “What started out as a hairline crack in the coalition is now widened to be a gaping fissure,” — Peter Lurie
- “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,” — Allison Schuster, white house spokeswoman
- “To see him not speaking out on the issues that are so obviously against everything that was promised is very hard because I believe ethically it’s probably working against his own inclinations,” — Tiffany Cianci, kennedy campaign adviser
- “What the MAHA movement has always been especially interested in is chemicals,” — Peter Lurie
- “If you’re going to pick one thing that RFK was successful at, it’s very much how he has influenced government policy on vaccines,” — Pamela Herd, a professor of social policy at the University of Michigan