Trump’s cabinet picks signal shakeup in nutrition, health and FDA leadership

President-elect Donald Trump has announced nominations for the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), which runs several nutrition programs, as well as the FDA commissioner and director of the National Institutes of Health. The selected candidates, yet to be confirmed by the Senate, are set to overhaul health and nutrition in the country.

He nominated Brooke Rollins, CEO and president of the conservative America First Policy Institute, to lead the USDA. If confirmed, Rollins will oversee the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the nation’s largest anti-hunger initiative, which supports over 41 million US citizens.

Recent USDA data shows 86.5% of US households experienced food security in 2023 — 1% lower than the previous year.

The remaining households experienced food insecurity at least once during the year (13.5%, statistically significantly higher than the 12.8% in 2022). 

Reforms to accessible nutrition

The number of people relying on food assistance has been rising in recent years. “The 2023 estimate remains very high and substantially higher than before the pandemic,” warns new research by Feeding America.

Rollins has yet to outline her plans for SNAP, but her nomination comes amid fierce debates over the US$1.5 trillion farm bill, which encompasses the accessible nutrition program. The farm bill is renewed every five years and has historically been a contentious issue in Congress.

House Republicans have proposed cutting costs by slashing SNAP funding. Senate Democrats advocate for expanded benefits, warning that funding cuts could exacerbate food insecurity and harm millions of vulnerable families.

“You’re hearing a very different tune as we head into this new Trump administration,” says Gabby Headrick, a nutrition researcher at George Washington University’s School of Public Health. “It’s important that we all proceed with caution and remember some of the public health losses we saw the first time.”

In 2020, a federal court overturned Trump’s earlier attempt to deny SNAP eligibility to about 700,000 unemployed people. Nutrition Insight recently looked at industry reactions to Trump’s win, outlining views on food security, nutrition programs and women’s health

Brooke Rollins is nominated to lead USDA.FDA under scrutiny

Trump highlighted Rollins’ prior roles, including her tenure on his 2016 Economic Advisory Council and as director of the Domestic Policy Council.

Rollins’ nomination follows Trump’s controversial pick of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as secretary of Health and Human Services. The decision has divided industry stakeholders. Some welcome Kennedy’s commitment to reforming agencies like the FDA, while others criticize his lack of medical expertise and history of “anti-scientific” statements. 

Kennedy has called for eliminating FDA’s nutrition department, banning food additives, removing ultra-processed foods from school lunches, making nutrition education mandatory in medical schools and systemic fixes in the food system instead of relying on anti-obesity drugs.

In late October, he warned: “If you work for the FDA and are part of this corrupt system, I have two messages for you: 1. Preserve your records, and 2. Pack your bags.”

Marty Makary is nominated as FDA commissioner (Image credit: Johns Hopkins University).Healthy America on agenda

Trump tapped Dr. Marty Makary, a Johns Hopkins University surgeon and health policy expert, to lead the FDA as commissioner. “The FDA has lost the trust of US citizens and has strayed from its mission as a regulator,” Trump says, emphasizing Makary’s task.

“He will work under the leadership of Kennedy to, among other things, properly evaluate harmful chemicals poisoning our nation’s food supply and drugs and biologics being given to our nation’s youth, so that we can finally address the Childhood Chronic Disease Epidemic.”

Council for Responsible Nutrition’s (CRN) president, Steve Mister, believes Makary can bring positive change to the FDA. “In particular, we are eager to collaborate on ways to find regulatory efficiencies within the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act, ensuring it continues to serve consumers effectively in today’s marketplace.” 

“At the same time, we welcome opportunities to engage with the FDA on strengthening oversight and maintaining the highest standards for dietary supplements and functional nutrition products. We are optimistic that under Dr. Makary’s leadership, the FDA will foster innovation while maintaining a commitment to safety, transparency and accountability.”

Trump emphasized Makary’s academic background, including over 300 scientific articles and three New York Times bestsellers, positioning him as a reform-focused FDA commissioner.

Meanwhile, Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, a Stanford professor known for his criticism of COVID-19 lockdowns and mandates, has been nominated to lead the National Institutes of Health (NIH). 

Trump praised Bhattacharya’s commitment to advancing research on chronic illness and disease, stating: “Jay and Kennedy will restore the NIH to a gold standard of medical research as they examine the underlying causes of and solutions to US biggest health challenges, including our crisis of chronic illness and disease.”