Errata: HHS Reimagined: RFK Jr.’s Bold Plan to Fix Food and End Chronic Disease

The controversy continues...

Apr 21, 2025

Errata:
Originally we wrote this post based on the draft budget and other sources of information. We realize now that it remains unclear if the increases we discussed will be in the 2026 budget. We are leaving this copy in place with an errata for reference and will produce an updated version in short order from new information. Understand this is all in flux given the apparent hetic decision making underway.

There was debate at the end of last week around the “leaked” draft budget for the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). I’m not going to dive into the parts of the budget that have created the most controversy in healthcare. For example, the draft budget might elimintate entire agencies, like the Substance Use and Mental Health Services Administration and Health Resources and Services Administration. The cuts hit across all agencies and programs, including testing for lead safety, tobacco products, sexually transmitted illnesses, and many more health concerns. The initial draft of the White House budget request calls for dropping the agency’s discretionary budget from its fiscal 2024 enacted level of about $117 billion to $80 billion in fiscal 2026.

Bottom line, it’s a shake-up like no other. But for those of looking for systemic change, there are some interesting components. And let me be clear, I’m not saying that the cuts will or won’t cause irrepairable harm, I’m simply sharing the draft and some of the Food Is Health related components.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s proposed reorganization of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is a major shift in past policy, setting a new blueprint designed to tackle America's chronic disease crisis at its root: the food system. Some might recall our post last week where we cited the CMS (under HHS) employee who was quoted as saying “He was talking about nutrition and exercise. That’s not what Medicare does.” in reference to Dr. Oz addressing the entire CMS staff. A shift indeed.

His plan underscores an essential truth—without addressing nutrition and the pervasive presence of ultra-processed foods (UPFs), our healthcare costs will continue spiraling.

Full Draft - Paywall

Key Elements of RFK Jr.’s Statements about Reforming HHS

Prioritizing Prevention Over Treatment:
- RFK Jr. has said he intends to reallocate resources toward preventive measures, nutrition education, and support for regenerative agricultural practices.
- This shift targets a reduction in chronic illnesses—like diabetes, obesity, and cardiovascular diseases—that collectively cost the U.S. healthcare system an estimated $1.9 trillion annually (potentially as high as $4 trillion by some estimates).
- This will mean an economic realignment in healthcare and/or food.
Food as a Central Pillar:
- RFK Jr.’s stated plan explicitly integrates nutritional quality into health policy, moving beyond pharmaceuticals as the default response.
- Proposals include revamping USDA dietary guidelines, ensuring they reflect current nutritional science free from industry influence.
Scaling Food as Medicine Programs:
- Significant funding is expected for expanding programs like FreshRx Oklahoma, which prescribe nutrient-dense, regenerative foods to manage chronic conditions, demonstrating measurable reductions in healthcare costs and improved patient outcomes. Not just a program to address food insecurity.
Reducing Chemical Loads in Food:
- The proposed budget was expected to allocate funds for aggressive research and regulation aimed at reducing harmful chemicals in food production, a direct response to evidence linking these toxins to chronic metabolic diseases.
Realigning Economic Incentives:
- We expected shifts in subsidies from commodity crops (corn, soy) toward high-nutrient, regenerative crops to foster economic and health benefits simultaneously, directly addressing the problematic dominance of UPFs.
Innovation and Data Transparency:
- RFK Jr. emphasized investment in advanced diagnostics, AI-driven nutritional profiling, and transparent labeling standards to empower consumer choice, aligning market dynamics with health outcomes.

Insights & Implications for Food is Health:

Reframing Health Economics: Kennedy’s plan challenges entrenched healthcare models, pushing an organizational shift toward what appears to be food-driven preventive care. As I shared in my Spitball Sunday LI post - instead of measuring the % of revenue for healthcare paid from outcomes based / value based contracts, let’s measure the # of chronic disease reversals/remissions achieved.
Impact on Agriculture and Food Industries: If implemented these policy shifts could drive substantial market opportunities for regenerative farmers, specialty food producers, and innovative agritech firms, positioning them as key players in a transformed food system.
Consumer Empowerment and Market Forces: Clear labeling, transparency, and education create a competitive advantage for companies committed to nutritional density, potentially reshaping consumer preferences and industry standards.
Systemic Integration and Collaboration: Kennedy’s reorganization encourages unprecedented cooperation between healthcare providers, agricultural sectors, and policymakers, recognizing food quality as a foundational public health issue.

RFK Jr.’s HHS reorganization signals a turning point. By embedding nutritional quality directly into health policy, it represents a potentially powerful and proactive approach to making America healthier again. Keneddys’ stated roadmap is clear, ambitious, and fundamentally transformative—shaping a future where chronic disease is dramatically reduced through better food, not just better medicine. It remains unclear from this budget whether the budget is driven by Kennedy or other forces in the administration.