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A recently obtained draft of a highly anticipated federal health strategy appears to incorporate long-debunked conspiracy theories regarding the safety of electromagnetic radiation, including Wi-Fi and 5G technologies. This alignment points to the significant influence of Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a prominent anti-vaccine advocate known for promoting such unproven claims.
The document, titled the “Make Our Children Healthy Again Strategy” (MAHA), is intended to guide the current administration’s health policy. However, a draft version secured by Politico reveals a report largely devoid of concrete policy recommendations or proposed regulations. Critics note its industry-friendly tone, highlighting a notable absence of restrictions on pervasive health concerns like pesticides or ultra-processed foods – topics often championed by the broader MAHA movement.
Echoes of Controversial Health Crusades
Much of the draft report rehashes core talking points from Kennedy’s past health campaigns. These include challenging the safety of childhood vaccines, questioning water fluoridation, advocating for increased physical activity to combat chronic diseases in children, calling for the elimination of synthetic food dyes, and raising concerns about the over-prescription of medications to children.
Strikingly, the MAHA draft makes no mention of the leading causes of death among American children: firearms and motor vehicle accidents. While cancer, another significant threat, is acknowledged, it is only within the context of pushing new AI technologies at the National Institutes of Health. Similarly, poisonings, a top killer, are entirely absent from the explicit recommendations.
Furthermore, despite emphasizing water quality, the report’s focus is exclusively on fluoride, overlooking other critical contaminants like lead or PFAS. And while the strategy prioritizes “whole, minimally processed foods,” it offers no actionable plan to reduce the alarming proportion of ultra-processed foods (UPFs) in American diets. Instead, it merely proposes to develop a “government-wide definition” for UPFs to inform future research and policies.
Unsubstantiated Wi-Fi and 5G Claims Emerge
Amidst these expected MAHA priorities and industry concessions, one brief section stands out for its direct link to widespread conspiracy theories. The draft includes a segment on electromagnetic radiation, stating that the health department, in collaboration with other federal agencies, will undertake studies to identify “gaps in knowledge” regarding its safety and efficacy.
While vaguely worded, this section directly brings to mind Secretary Kennedy’s long history of making false claims about electromagnetic radiation. He has repeatedly asserted that Wi-Fi and 5G cause a litany of health problems, including cancer, autism, various mental and cognitive impairments, post-traumatic stress, fatigue, and Type 2 diabetes. In a 2023 podcast, Kennedy claimed that “Wi-Fi radiation opens up your blood-brain barrier,” allowing toxins into the brain. During his Senate confirmation in January, he reiterated his belief that 5G is equally harmful, alleging it “changes DNA” and is used for mass surveillance.
However, none of these assertions are supported by scientific evidence. Extensive research generally finds no health risks associated with 5G or Wi-Fi. The World Health Organization (WHO) explicitly states, "To date, and after much research performed, no adverse health effect has been causally linked with exposure to wireless technologies." The WHO further concludes, "Despite extensive research, to date there is no evidence to conclude that exposure to low level electromagnetic fields is harmful to human health."