Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin has not released a formal "Make America Healthy Again" (MAHA) agenda, eight months after pledging to do so. The commitment followed a December petition from activists calling for Zeldin's removal. While agency officials previously described the report as being in its final stages, an EPA spokesperson stated this week that MAHA priorities are an ongoing effort rather than a single document.
The MAHA movement, associated with Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., seeks stricter regulations on pesticides, chemicals, and food systems to address chronic disease. Since taking office, Zeldin has focused on a deregulatory agenda, including proposals to overturn findings related to climate change and the rollback of various environmental protections. Zeldin has characterized these actions as necessary deregulation, while touting specific decisions, such as the intent to regulate certain phthalates, as MAHA-aligned victories.
Activists, however, have expressed dissatisfaction with recent agency decisions. Examples cited by advocates include the EPA's support for pesticide manufacturer Bayer in a recent Supreme Court case and the exclusion of microplastics and pharmaceuticals from a mandatory drinking water testing list. The EPA stated that technology for testing microplastics remains in development, while activists argue the administration is prioritizing corporate interests over public health concerns. The tension comes as some MAHA coalition members suggest their support in upcoming congressional elections may depend on the administration's policy outcomes.