Mothers Mobilize to Challenge the Influence of MAHA Movement

During his confirmation hearing in January, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., then nominated as secretary of health and human services, was supported by a group of mothers seated behind him. Many wore branded Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) T-shirts and displayed satisfied expressions. In his remarks, Kennedy described this collective of mothers as one of the most powerful and transcendent groups he has encountered.

Kennedy is acutely aware of the cultural reverence afforded to mothers regarding the nation’s health and leverages this perception to strengthen his message. Advocates for children’s wellbeing now face the challenge of reclaiming this moral authority from his movement.

Though the precise number of self-identified MAHA mothers is unclear, their presence is strongly felt through social media, podcasts, and direct access to health policymakers. In March, a private roundtable involving MAHA mothers, cabinet members, and former Trump administration officials reportedly addressed issues such as food additives, infant formula, and screen time.

Interestingly, some MAHA policy positions could attract broader support from those who do not endorse Kennedy or the administration. For instance, concerns about food additives and screen time are widely shared. However, these areas have not been where the movement has achieved significant impact.

A recently leaked draft of the "Make Our Children Healthy Again Strategy," a White House report on children’s health, falls short of recommending direct restrictions on ultraprocessed foods and pesticides. This omission drew sharp criticism from within the MAHA movement. Moms Across America, a leading MAHA grassroots organization, condemned the report’s vague mention of pesticides as "an embarrassment and an insult to the intelligence of the American public," accusing it of stalling with potentially dangerous consequences.

In contrast, MAHA's longstanding opposition to vaccines, a signature cause of Kennedy, has already inflicted considerable harm. Within six months, Kennedy dismissed all expert members of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, halted nearly $500 million in mRNA vaccine research, and proposed changes to the federal vaccine court that could limit access to certain immunizations. The draft strategy emphasizes vaccine injuries—which are rare—rather than prioritizing access to lifesaving vaccines.