Key facts
- EPA administrator Lee Zeldin promised a formal 'Make America Healthy Again' (MAHA) agenda.
- Eight months after the promise, the MAHA agenda has not been released.
- Activists are frustrated by the lack of concrete action on pesticides, chemicals, and public health.
- The EPA stated that MAHA is an ongoing effort, not a single document.
- The EPA previously indicated it would regulate some phthalates but did not address consumer products containing them.
- The EPA decided not to include microplastics and pharmaceuticals on a list of chemicals to be tested for in drinking water.
Environmental Protection Agency administrator Lee Zeldin pledged to release a formal agenda for the 'Make America Healthy Again' (MAHA) initiative, focusing on protections against harmful chemicals and other health concerns. However, eight months after the initial promise, the agenda has yet to materialize, causing significant frustration among activists who supported the movement.
Activists, including Kelly Ryerson and Alexandra Muñoz, express disappointment, stating that the administration appears to be prioritizing corporate interests over public health. They point to the EPA's ongoing rollback of environmental regulations and its support for companies like Bayer in legal battles concerning pesticide liability as evidence of this prioritization.
Despite assurances that the MAHA agenda was in its final stages, an EPA spokesperson recently stated that MAHA is an ongoing effort rather than a single document. This statement, coupled with the EPA's decision not to include microplastics and pharmaceuticals on a list of chemicals to be tested for in drinking water, has led some, like former EPA official Betsy Southerland, to label the situation a 'bait-and-switch.'
The MAHA movement, championed by Robert F. Kennedy Jr., has raised public awareness about environmental chemicals and pesticides, increasing expectations for action from the current administration. However, the lack of tangible progress on key issues has led many activists to consider voting based on issues rather than party affiliation in upcoming elections.