Today’s Daily Brief covers CMS and all 50 states launching the $275 million “Nurses for Nursing Homes” initiative, Secretary Kennedy and Education Secretary McMahon urging schools nationwide to adopt the revived Presidential Fitness Test, and President Trump directing the USDA to establish a $5 billion SPUR Guaranteed Loan Program to expand processing facilities for American ranchers and commercial fishermen.

1. CMS and All 50 States Launch Initiative to Recruit and Retain Nurses in Nursing Homes

CMS formed a partnership with all 50 states and the District of Columbia, to launch the $275 million Nurses for Nursing Homes initiative. The new program will recruit and retain nurses in long-term care facilities, with a focus on rural areas and those facing higher labor shortages.

Nurses seeking funds must meet the following criteria, according to CMS:

“Hold an active RN or LPN/LVN license at the time that the candidate begins their employment.

Work at least 30 hours per week at a qualifying nursing home.

Have eligible student loan debt; or for those without student loan debt, have graduated within the past two years to qualify for a stipend.Not have worked in a nursing home for at least 60 days before opening an application account and starting an application. During the first 90 days of the initiative (Oct. 26, 2026, to Jan. 24, 2027), an exception applies to RNs and LPNs/LVNs who began working in an eligible nursing home between July 28, 2026, through Oct. 25, 2026.

Commit to three years of service at an eligible Medicare-, Medicaid-, or dually certified long-term care facility.”

According to Secretary Kennedy, “Under President Trump’s leadership, we’re working to address critical workforce shortages, particularly in rural communities, and ensure every American has access to quality, affordable healthcare.”

2. Secretary Kennedy Encourages Schools to Expand Physical Fitness

Speaking alongside Education Secretary Linda McMahon, Secretary Kennedy encouraged schools to embrace the revived Presidential Fitness Test, and expand opportunities for physical activity.

According to the HHS Secretary, “Getting America healthy starts with getting our children moving again. President Trump brought back the Presidential Fitness Test to restore strength, fitness, and healthy competition for America’s youth. Now we are challenging schools and communities to get kids moving, reward what works, and help every child build healthy habits for life.”

3. President Announces $5 Billion SPUR Guaranteed Loan Program to Expand Processing for American Ranchers and Fishermen

Following the launch of the America First Seafood Strategy, President Trump directed the USDA to make at least $5 billion available through the Strengthening Processing for U.S. Ranchers (SPUR) Guaranteed Loan Program to expand, improve, and diversify processing capacity for American meat, poultry, and seafood.

According to the USDA, “The SPUR Guaranteed Loan Program will provide a 90 percent loan guarantee to commercial lenders, enabling them to offer financing to eligible borrowers to expand, improve, and diversify their processing capacity for American meat, poultry, and seafood. The maximum amount that a borrower may receive is $175 million and loans under this program may allow for a two-year deferral of principal and interest payments.”

Today’s Daily Brief covers ACL selecting 70 Phase 1 winners for accessible community gardens, CMS announcing over $412 million in combined Rural Health Transformation Program awards in Georgia and Florida, NIH Director Dr. Jay Bhattacharya and Chief Science and Data Officer Dr. Martin Kulldorff’s forthcoming Health Freedom Lecture, and administration announces America First Seafood Strategy.

1. ACL Announces 70 Phase 1 Winners of the Cultivating Connected Communities Prize Challenge

The Administration for Community Living (ACL) announced the selection of 70 winning teams in Phase 1 of its Cultivating Connected Communities Prize Challenge.

An official press release read,

“Garden organizers from 37 states and Tribal communities offered solutions to make their community gardens more accessible to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD), people living with paralysis and other physical disabilities, and older adults. A multidisciplinary expert panel selected the winners based on their approaches to accessibility, sustainability, and community partnerships. The full list of the winners is available on the challenge website.”

According to Secretary Kennedy,

“Every American should have the opportunity to grow real food, spend time outdoors, and participate in a healthy community. These teams are removing barriers that keep older adults and people with disabilities from taking part in community gardens. By making these spaces more accessible, they are expanding access to nutritious food, healthy activity, and the community connections that help people live healthier lives.”

2. CMS Announces $219 Million to Expand Rural Healthcare Workforce and Healthcare Tech in Georgia

CMS announced an investment of approximately $219 million in Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) funding for Georgia.

Georgia health authorities have committed to use these funds to improve care across its 126 rural and partially rural counties. The investment supports five initiatives focused on expanding the rural healthcare workforce through clinician recruitment, training, residencies, and retention incentive.

Additionally, the funds will be used in the deployment of mobile health clinics and telehealth services. Additional elements of the funding will be used for maternal, pediatric, behavioral, and preventive care, as well as health tech upgrades.

3. CMS Announces More Than $193 Million to Expand Preventive Care and Bring Specialty Care Closer to Rural Florida

CMS announced $193.7 million in Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) funding to 45 organizations across Florida, supporting more than 500 partnerships among hospitals, clinics, local governments, and community groups. The investment expands access to preventive, specialty, and follow-up care through telemedicine, remote patient monitoring, pharmacy-based services, diagnostic kiosks, community paramedicine, and mobile health options.

According to Secretary Kennedy, “President Trump understands that every American deserves high-quality healthcare, no matter where they live. We are putting resources directly into rural communities to strengthen the health workforce, modernize infrastructure, expand access, and bring care closer to home. We are giving states the flexibility to build solutions around the people they serve, while demanding accountability for results. That is how we strengthen rural health, improve the lives of patients and families, and Make America Healthy Again.”

4. Dr. Jay Bhattacharya and Dr. Martin Kulldorff to Speak at NIH Health Freedom Lecture

NIH Director Dr. Jay Bhattacharya announced that he and Chief Science and Data Officer Dr. Martin Kulldorff will deliver a lecture as part of the NIH series of Health Freedom Lectures.

5. Trump Administration Announces America First Seafood Strategy

The Trump Administration officially announced the America First Seafood Strategy. HHS defied the strategy as “A coordinated federal plan to strengthen American seafood production, modernize infrastructure, expand markets for U.S. fishermen and processors, and combat unfair foreign competition. The strategy advances President Trump’s Executive Order, Restoring American Seafood Competitiveness, and his commitment to rebuild America’s seafood industry, strengthen domestic production, and Make America Healthy Again by expanding access to nutritious, American-caught seafood as part of a healthy diet.”

In an official strategy document, the administration stated,

“FDA, in coordination with NOAA and USDA, will establish a voluntary “U.S. Caught Seafood” designation for seafood caught by American commercial fishermen on U.S.- flagged vessels operating under U.S. fisheries management. The designation will distinguish seafood harvested under U.S. fisheries management from entirely foreign-origin seafood and give American consumers a simple, recognizable way to choose American Seafood.

The federal government will also ensure the new voluntary “U.S. Caught Seafood” designation is complementary to the existing country of origin labeling requirements for fish and shellfish.These efforts will help against seafood fraud, mislabeling, and deceptive marketing practices that obscure the true origin of seafood sold to American consumers.”

Today’s Daily Brief covers a multi-agency Alzheimer’s research and prevention effort across HHS, FDA, and ARPA-H; CMS directing more than $257 million in Rural Health Transformation Program awards to Alaska and Texas; and Vice President Vance alongside USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins selecting eight domestic fertilizer projects totaling $1.34 billion under the FIELDS Program.

1. HHS, FDA, and ARPA-A Launch New Alzheimer’s Initiatives

HHS and FDA released new plans to better research and fight Alzheimer’s. First, Secretary Kennedy announced an update to the National Plan to Address Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias.

The new plan updates six outdated goal with four consolidated measures. The new measures were defined as follow by HHS:

“Promote Dementia Risk Reduction Across the Lifespan. Advance understanding of risk factors, support healthy aging, and put evidence into practice where it may help reduce risk or delay onset.

Accelerate Discovery and Innovation to Prevent and Treat Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias. Advance research, biomarkers, clinical trials, prevention, treatment development, and the translation of discoveries into practice.

Advance High-Value Dementia Care Across the Care Journey. Improve care from detection and diagnosis through treatment, management, coordination, and transitions between settings.

Strengthen Evidence-Based Services and Supports for People Living with Dementia and Their Families. Strengthen caregiver support, long-term services and supports, home and community-based services, respite, education, safety, and planning.”

Additionally, FDA launched the Neuroscience Advancement and Innovation Nexus (NAIN). This is a new program designed to accelerate the development of medical products for brain and nervous system conditions by improving the science, tools, and regulatory approaches involved.

NAIN’s first effort is the Alzheimer’s Prevention Accelerator, which will focus on products that delay or prevent Alzheimer’s disease. According to Acting FDA Commissioner Kyle Diamantas,

“The launch of NAIN reflects FDA’s commitment — in support of the Trump Administration’s drive to transform health care innovation — to making sure our regulatory science and cross-center collaboration keep pace with the rapid advances happening in neuroscience. Through NAIN and the Alzheimer’s Prevention Accelerator, we are bringing the full breadth of FDA’s expertise to bear on one of the most urgent public health challenges of our time.”

Simultaneous to this, ARPA-H announced investments of up to $48.8 million for earlier detection and intervention of Alzheimer’s.

An official statement form HHS further read,

“The Administration for Community Living will expand brain health resources and training for elder justice professionals. Other HHS initiatives will expand dementia training and screening in health centers, develop behavioral health and crisis response resources for older adults experiencing cognitive decline, strengthen public health approaches to dementia, study diagnostic delays and the economic burden of dementia, review evidence on prevention, and test a lifestyle intervention for beneficiaries with mild cognitive impairment.”

2. CMS Announces Investment of $249 Million for Rural Healthcare Projects Across Alaska

CMS announced nearly $249 million in Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) funding for 254 projects aimed at strengthening healthcare for rural Alaskans.The investments will expand maternal and child health services, build the local health workforce, equip village clinics with new technology such as portable X-ray units and telehealth connections, and improve access through remote monitoring and other tools.

3. CMS Announces Investment of $8 Million for 28 Rural Texas Healthcare Providers

CMS announced $8 million in Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) funding for 28 rural healthcare providers through the Rural Texas Strong initiative. The investment will support chronic disease prevention and management (including diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and chronic respiratory disease), recruitment and retention of physicians, emergency medical personnel, and other healthcare professionals, replacement of aging medical equipment, and facility improvements throughout rural Texas counties.

According to Secretary Kennedy, “President Trump understands that every American deserves high-quality healthcare, no matter where they live. We are putting resources directly into rural communities to strengthen the health workforce, modernize infrastructure, expand access, and bring care closer to home. We are giving states the flexibility to build solutions around the people they serve, while demanding accountability for results. That is how we strengthen rural health, improve the lives of patients and families, and Make America Healthy Again.”

4. USDA Announces Investment to Onshore Fertilizer Production

Vice President Vance and USDA Secretary Rollins announced the selection of eight fertilizer manufacturing projects under the agency’s Fertilizer Investment & Expansion for Long-Term Domestic Supply (FIELDS) Program. The projects represent more than $1.34 billion in total proposed investment.

The eight projects under FIELDS are described by USDA in the following way:

“TalusAg – Iowa, Kentucky, Minnesota, Tennessee, Nebraska, Illinois, and South Dakota: Selected for approximately $99.8 million in proposed USDA funding toward a $270.2 million project to deploy 20 modular ammonia manufacturing units across 11 locations in seven states. Using American energy, air, and water, the systems are expected to produce approximately 130,000 tons of anhydrous ammonia annually, bringing domestic fertilizer manufacturing closer to the farmers who depend on it.

Peace Valley – Florida: Selected for approximately $19.9 million in proposed USDA funding toward a $50.6 million project to expand fertilizer manufacturing in Bartow, Florida. The project is expected to produce approximately 250,000 tons annually of nitrogen, phosphorus-, potassium-, and sulfur-containing fertilizer products.

PCI Nitrogen – Texas and Oregon: Selected for approximately $100 million in proposed USDA funding toward a $200 million project to modernize fertilizer manufacturing facilities in Pasadena, Texas, and St. Helens, Oregon. The improvements are expected to support approximately 148,280 tons of annual fertilizer production, including ammonium sulfate and urea.

Intrepid Potash – New Mexico: Selected for approximately $139 million in proposed USDA funding toward a $265 million project to construct a sulfate of potash manufacturing facility near Carlsbad, New Mexico. The proposed facility would produce approximately 220,000 tons annually and establish an additional domestic source of this important specialty fertilizer.

AdvanSix – Virginia: Selected for approximately $47.4 million in proposed USDA funding toward a $98.1 million project to modernize and expand an existing ammonia manufacturing facility in Hopewell, Virginia. The project is expected to produce approximately 84,000 tons of anhydrous ammonia annually.

SUL4R-PLUS Illinois – Illinois: Selected for approximately $34.9 million in proposed USDA funding toward a $69.7 million project to expand an existing sulfur fertilizer manufacturing facility in Marissa, Illinois. The project will add a manufacturing line and improve storage and transportation infrastructure to support approximately 100,000 tons of annual sulfur fertilizer production.

True Organic Products – California, Oregon, and Arizona: Selected for approximately $15.3 million in proposed USDA funding toward a $30.6 million project to expand fertilizer manufacturing at facilities in Helm, California; Boardman, Oregon; and Arlington, Arizona. The project is expected to support approximately 142,805 tons of annual fertilizer production using agricultural byproducts.

Agriculture Project Holdco – Kansas and Indiana: Selected for approximately $116.9 million in proposed USDA funding toward a $360 million project to develop two fertilizer manufacturing facilities in Lewis, Kansas, and Fair Oaks, Indiana. The facilities would convert dairy manure into approximately 4,100 tons of liquid ammonium nitrate fertilizer annually, creating additional domestic fertilizer production capacity.”

Today’s Daily Brief covers highlights from MAHA Institute’s Summit on Screen & Social Media Harms in Washington, New Mexico’s historic $25 billion civil penalty against Meta Platforms, CMS allocating $32 million under the Rural Health Transformation Program across Mississippi, and HHS/CMS leadership issuing formal compliance warnings against New York State over managed long-term care fraud oversight.

1. MAHA Institute Summit on Screen & Social Media Harms

MAHA Institute held its Summit on Screen & Social Media Harms in Washington, D.C. During the summit, members of the public heard from a variety of scientists, researchers, policymakers, and parents on the dangers posed to children by an overabundance of screen time and social media exposure.

MAHA Institute Vice President Debra Sheldon opened the summit by discussing the depth and breadth of the problems facing young people. According to Sheldon:

“Exposure [to screens] often begins before a child’s first birthday. So we’re talking about babies. Just try to imagine that. Toddlers now spend—some of whom can barely walk—about two hours a day on media. And by the pre-teen and teen years, that reaches an average of four or more hours a day. By adolescence, children spend more time on screens than they spend sleeping or sitting in school. And nearly half of adolescents admit they lose track of how much time they spend on their phones.”

She added:

“Nearly five in 10 teenagers have experienced cyberbullying, and between 3.5% and 5% of children experience sextortion, sexual exploitation, and blackmail before adulthood. The advisory [presented to attendees] cites research that predicts that by 2050, which is just a mere 30 years from now, almost 40% of children will be nearsighted. This risk is directly tied to prolonged screen use and too little time outdoors. And children who got their first smartphone between ages 12 and 13 were more likely to show signs of clinically significant mental health problems by age 13 than children who still did not have one. The attention economy has essentially captured our children, and it’s not surprising—it’s engineered to do so.”

Sheldon further linked social media addiction and screen time exposure to other major problems facing young people, continuing:

“Between 2019 and 2021, overdose deaths among teens rose 109%, and 84% of those deaths involved fentanyl, according to the CDC. We now know with a lot of compelling evidence that Snapchat is the main platform where drug dealers go to find kids. It’s estimated that 15 million United States children are on Snapchat, and some reports claim that 70% of all fentanyl overdose deaths among teens in our country can be linked to drug deals made between adult drug dealers and kids on Snapchat.

Narcotics task forces throughout the country and the DEA are very well aware of this, and in many cases, Snapchat has not been cooperative in complying with requests in a timely enough manner that could have saved kids’ lives.”

Dr. Stephanie Haridopolos—Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Health Policy within the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health, and Director of National Health Communications for the Office of the Surgeon General—addressed the summit, discussing the wide-ranging harms posed to young people by screen time exposure.

In her remarks, Dr. Haridopolos addressed a proposed settlement between Meta and 51 attorneys general who had sued the company over the addictive properties of the company’s social media products, which were allegedly designed with the intention of addicting young users.

According to Dr. Haridopolos:

“The 51 attorney generals that proposed a settlement of $17 billion over 10 years, subject to court approval—where is that money gonna go? And where is it gonna be spent? Is it gonna be spent on a road improvement? Or do we know if it’s gonna help kids who have mental health issues or addiction issues because of the problem? We should demand we know where that money goes when it does happen. How much will reach the children and families? And how much will support independent research and prevention? The public deserves to have those answers.

And as the legal work continues, I want to share how we’re moving forward at HHS with the Surgeon General’s report and the Live Real Life campaign.We’re taking it a step further to address those needs. And after we laid out the harms, the campaign focuses on what we do about them and how we put those changes into practice. The Live Real Life symposium was the start of that, but that’s not the end. That’s the beginning of the conversation that will continue. And as we see more coming out with research, then we will report, of course. But I think one good inflection point is if we have a national cohort, because we’re having a change with the Meta settlement, we can start following it throughout time. I don’t know if you guys remember the ABCD study at NIH, but that was only on Android devices and those children are about to reach 19.

We can do a new national cohort where this data can be used by states to check passive sensing surveys and have a youth voice and have almost like an emergency warning system, so we know what new harms are coming out. It really should include not only Androids, but iPhones too, unlike the ABCD study. So we’re looking at—and as we called for in the report—longitudinal cohorts. That is an idea that I think is a good inflection point with the changes in time that we’re seeing.

We are still continuing to meet with advocacy groups and clinicians and organizations and talking about it. And there’s a lot of interest in developing healthier digital habits. We also met with the Second Lady’s team. She’s very interested about her literacy focus and how screens fit into that conversation. The 2024 NAEP report shows that 40% of fourth graders scored below the basic reading level. And unfortunately, we’ve been seeing that trend go down since 2010. So that intersects with exploring screens and literacy, and we drafted a white paper for her review, which also delineates what every state is doing on their policies with screen time and also bell-to-bell bans.

But a lot of this data that we’d like to see, like with the national longitudinal cohort, the data already exists with these companies. And the FTC has documented how companies collect vast amounts of personal information and use it as it monetizes attention through their advertising. So companies control access to that data. The public cannot examine internal records. So we need to secure privacy-protecting access for that independent research. If data can help companies work out what keeps the child engaged, we should be able to study what the engagement is doing to the child. Companies should not get to control both the product and the evidence it judges for safety.”

The full Summit can be watched on the MAHA Institute X profile.

2. CMS Announces $32 Million for Rural Doctor Recruitment, Healthcare Worker Training, and Emergency Mental Health Expansion in Mississippi

CMS announced a $32 million investment through the Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) to support 60 awards for rural healthcare providers and workforce programs across Mississippi.

The funding aims to recruit and retain primary care physicians, expand clinical training and career pathways, as well as establish three psychiatric emergency units next to hospital emergency departments.

According to Secretary Kennedy,

“President Trump understands that every American deserves high-quality healthcare, no matter where they live. We are putting resources directly into rural communities to strengthen the health workforce, modernize infrastructure, expand access, and bring care closer to home. We are giving states the flexibility to build solutions around the people they serve, while demanding accountability for results. That is how we strengthen rural health, improve the lives of patients and families, and Make America Healthy Again.”

3. HHS/CMS Holds Press Conference on Anti-Fraud Campaign

HHS and CMS officials held a major press conference detailing ongoing fraud investigations, and actions taken by federal authorities to crack down on criminality.

According to Deputy Administrator Dan Brillman, “CMS sent a letter to the state of New York a compliance warning letter for their failure to oversee the managed long-term care plans who oversee these programs. The state has 30 days to answer and 90 days to come into compliance.”

Brillman added, “New York knows they have a problem — we’re holding them accountable to fix it.”

Today’s Daily Brief covers the livestream of MAHA Institute’s Summit on Screen & Social Media Harms in Washington, D.C., Secretary Kennedy issuing a final 24-hour call for public comments on electromagnetic field and wireless radiation risks, follow-up remarks from the HHS Secretary praising First Lady Melania Trump for her advocacy surrounding the Women’s Health Executive Order, USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins announcing the $8 billion Harvest Fuel Relief program for American producers, HHS’s launch of a national plan to improve kidney care, HRSA’s new program for Sickle Cell Care hubs, and Secretary Kennedy’s statement addressing a New York Times hit piece.

1. Today: MAHA Institute Summit on Screen & Social Media Harms

Beginning at 10 a.m. Eastern Time today, the MAHA Institute will host the Summit on Screen and Social Media Harms.

The event will be livestreamed here on MAHA Institute's X profile.

2. Secretary Kennedy Issues Final Call for Public Comment on Potential EMF Harms

Secretary Kennedy encouraged Americans to submit public comments about their views and concerns on electromagnetic field (EMF) exposure before the end of the day (October 21st, 2026).

According to Secretary Kennedy,

“1 day left to comment! HHS is seeking public input on the potential health effects of radiofrequency and electromagnetic field (EMF) exposure from cell phones, Wi-Fi, and other wireless technologies. Help us identify research gaps and better understand how these technologies may affect our health, especially the health of our children.”

3. Secretary Kennedy Thanks First Lady For Her Support of Administration’s Policies on Women’s Health

A day after President Trump signed a major Executive Order (EO) on women’s health issues, Secretary Kennedy provided the following comment,

“Thank you, First Lady, for your leadership in advancing women’s health. Women deserve clear answers about conditions that uniquely or disproportionately affect them. Today, we are changing how our government pursues those answers. The new Women’s Health Division at NIH will tackle these questions with gold-standard science, accelerate research, and turn discoveries into better prevention, treatments, and care for women across America.”

4. USDA Announces Harvest Fuel Relief Program

USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins announced that the USDA will provide $8 billion in one-time payments to American farmers through the new Harvest Fuel Relief program to ease the impact of temporary market disruptions and higher input costs during the 2026 harvest season.

According to Secretary Rollins, “This relief will help bring certainty to our farmers during harvest so they can continue to feed our nation. Our farmers show up for America every single day. Under President Trump, we will ALWAYS show up for them.”

5. HHS Launches National Plan to Transform Kidney Care

HHS announced the Kidney Care National Plan. The plan was defined as a department-wide strategy that builds on President Trump’s 2019 Executive Order on Advancing American Kidney Health.

The plan targets the root causes of kidney disease by prioritizing earlier detection and intervention to prevent kidney failure, improving dialysis care through greater competition, fewer barriers for new providers, expanded home-based options, and innovation, and reforming the transplant system via a National Transplant Expansion Strategy.

According to Secretary Kennedy,

“President Trump changed the course of kidney care in 2019 by challenging a system that waited for patients to reach kidney failure. Now HHS is building on that work by detecting kidney disease earlier, expanding treatment and home-care options, removing barriers to innovation and transplantation, and strengthening safety across the transplant system. Our goal is simple: preserve kidney health, give patients more choices, and help more Americans avoid kidney failure and live longer, healthier lives.”

6. HRSA Expands Sickle Cell Care Nationwide with Seven New Regional Hubs

HRSA announced seven awards under its new Sickle Cell Disease Regional Care Excellence (SoRCE) Program. SoRCE will establish new Regional Coordinating Hubs to expand the agency’s sickle cell care network from five to seven regions.

Each hub will partner with at least three clinical-community spokes that pair specialty centers with local organizations, while HRSA plans additional nationwide technical assistance, training, and capacity-building support for community partners, health centers, and regional networks.

7. Secretary Kennedy Corrects New York Times Article

Secretary Kennedy published a lengthy response to a New York Times article headlined “Kennedy’s Vaccine Plan Could Cause Surge in Hepatitis B.” Secretary Kennedy’s statement is reproduced in full below:

“The New York Times and [author] Apoorva Mandavilli owe parents the facts behind their alarming hepatitis B reporting.

The paper they discuss is a “modeling study” or simulation based on assumptions, not a study of evidence or outcomes. The model assumes allowing parents and doctors to decide when or whether to vaccinate would drive vaccine completion down to just half of children. The researchers did not observe that decline or establish that our policy would cause it. Yet the Times obscures that assumption while amplifying the alarming prediction it produces.

At its December meeting, ACIP recommended that parents and doctors decide whether and when to begin hepatitis B vaccination. CDC’s January update to the childhood vaccine schedule carried forward that approach. Yet the researchers assigned sharply different vaccination rates to the two, producing different infection projections. The Times should explain what justifies that difference before attributing its alarming 83% figure to the January update.

The article also gets the recommendation wrong. The recommendation did not tell parents to wait until two months to decide. Parents could choose vaccination at birth. The two-month suggestion applied to administering the first dose if parents deferred the birth dose.

The recommendation retained birth-dose vaccination for babies whose mothers have hepatitis B or whose status is unknown. For babies whose mothers test negative, it gave parents and doctors a choice about when or whether to begin vaccination.

I reject the idea that respecting parents’ choices means abandoning children’s health. Under my leadership, HHS puts informed consent, individual medical circumstances, and conversations between parents and doctors at the center of health decisions.

I welcome rigorous scrutiny of our policies. But scrutiny demands accurate reporting, defensible assumptions, and evidence. The Times should correct its error and explain the assumptions behind its headline. Parents deserve the full story.”

Today’s Daily Brief covers President Trump signing the “Advancing Women’s Health to Improve Outcomes in All Phases of Life” Executive Order alongside First Lady Melania Trump, as well as CMS directing $16.4 million in Rural Health Transformation Program funding to expand healthcare workforce pipelines across rural Maryland.

1. President Trump Signs Women's Health Executive Order

President Trump signed the “Advancing Women’s Health to Improve Outcomes in All Phases of Life” Executive Order (EO).

The EO aims to improve access to healthcare among women by “ensuring that medical research, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment reflect the highest quality scientific evidence, with the goal of improving health outcomes in all phases of life.”

Within 90 days, HHS will establish a Women’s Health Division that will expand scientific review, coordinate research (including replication studies), promote innovative technologies, strengthen interdisciplinary collaboration, improve sex-specific data collection and women’s inclusion in trials, enforce accountability for considering sex as a biological variable, and accelerate the move from discovery to practice.

According to the EO, many conditions uniquely or disproportionately affect women. Such conditions include cardiovascular disease, cancer, Alzheimer’s, autoimmune disorders, endometriosis, fibroids, infertility, maternal health, menopause, and others. In the EO, President Trump called for coordinated federal leadership, greater scientific investment, and faster translation of research into clinical and community practice.

The order also creates a White House Women’s Health Task Force, co-chaired by the HHS Secretary and the Assistant to the President and Chief of Staff, with membership from multiple Cabinet departments and agencies including the Departments of War, Agriculture, Labor, Education, and Veterans Affairs, as well as the EPA, FDA, CDC, NIH, ARPA-H, and CMS. The Task Force will implement comprehensive, stage-specific approaches aimed at improving women’s health, from cradle to grave.

During the signing ceremony, President Trump criticized previous administrations for failing to prioritize women’s health. According to President Trump, “Who the hell wouldn’t have a women’s health division?!”

2. First Lady Makes Statement on Women’s Health EO

First Lady Melania Trump accompanied the president during the signing of the EO, and discussed her support for the initiatives established therein. According to an official statement from the First Lady,

“Previous generations fought for women’s rights. Our generation will fight to discover the cures that will ensure a woman can live her life in health and to the fullest,” The First Lady said from the White House.The Executive Order establishes a White House Women’s Health Task Force and establishes a new Women’s Health Division within the National Institutes of Health to accelerate scientific discoveries to improve women’s health outcomes.”

She then outlined the five main pillars of the EO in the following way:

“Direct research funding towards finding cures that affect women in a unique way.

Use super intelligence to enhance our insight of female biology and speed up medical discoveries.

Accelerate the process of getting promising therapeutics from laboratories to female patients, while maintaining strict safety standards.

Ensure that medical breakthroughs are accessible and affordable to women, regardless of their financial circumstances.

Replace generations of silence with open conversation, education, and compassion.”

3. CMS Announces $16.4 Million for Rural Healthcare Workforce Training and Retention Across Maryland

CMS announced a $16.4 million Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) investment to address healthcare workforce shortages and improve access to care in rural Maryland.

The funds will support projects to train Marylanders for healthcare careers, expand registered apprenticeships, reduce financial barriers to certification, and help communities recruit and retain nurses, physician assistants, physicians, dentists, and other providers.

According to Secretary Kennedy,

“President Trump understands that every American deserves high-quality healthcare, no matter where they live. We are putting resources directly into rural communities to strengthen the health workforce, modernize infrastructure, expand access, and bring care closer to home. We are giving states the flexibility to build solutions around the people they serve, while demanding accountability for results. That is how we strengthen rural health, improve the lives of patients and families, and Make America Healthy Again.”

Today’s Daily Brief covers registration for this week’s MAHA Institute Summit on Screen & Social Media Harms in Washington, D.C., CMS Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz evaluating funding parity and capital allocation within the Rural Health Transformation Program, and NIH Director Dr. Jay Bhattacharya highlighting optical neuroimaging advancements during his visit to the NIH Pain Research Center.

1. Summit on Screen & Social Media Harms This Wednesday

On Wednesday, October 21st, MAHA Institute will host the Summit on Screen & Social Media Harms in Washington, D.C. If you would like to attend in person, you may register your interest by visiting: luma.com/screenharmsumm…

Alternatively, the Summit will be livestreamed on MAHA Institute’s YouTube channel and X profile.

2. Dr. Oz Discusses Rural Health Transformation Program

In a recent interview, CMS Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz discussed the successes associated with the Trump administration’s Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP).

According to the CMS Administrator,

“We've seen hospitals close over the past 15 years when we were throwing money at the problem. So the issue isn't the money; the issue is how we use the money. So over the past five years, Medicaid funding that goes proportionally to these hospitals has increased about 50%. I mean, what else in your life has increased 50% in the last five years? So, there's probably enough money for now in the system. In addition, we're adding $200 million more dollars into the system. But let me just draw a basic analogy to you. The amount of money we're spending in Medicare, which is for older Americans, should that increase in funding be about what we're spending on poor Americans, vulnerable Americans? I would argue yes. All humans are equally valuable. So if I'm increasing money in Medicare, it should be about the same as Medicaid. That's what we're doing.”

3. NIH Director Visits Pain Research Center

Following his visit to the NIH Pain Research Center, the agency’s director, Dr. Jay Bhattacharya made the following statement,
“NIH’s Pain Research Center (PRC) is taking on one of medicine’s most complex challenges: understanding and treating pain.

During my visit to the PRC, researchers demonstrated how they are using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) to gain new insights into how the brain experiences pain. This technology could be especially valuable for studying pain in people who may have difficulty verbally communicating what they are experiencing.📷The PRC reflects a broader strength of the NIH research environment, bringing together scientific expertise, interdisciplinary collaboration, and cutting-edge technology to address widespread public health challenges.”

Today’s Daily Brief covers Dr. Oz explaining the decision to implement a ban on new Affordable Care Act brokers alongside the removal of 750,000 inactive accounts, NIH-supported advancements in brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) restoring vocal and text communication, and USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins rolling out crop insurance and export quota expansions under the Great American Cotton Plan.

1. Dr. Oz Discusses Affordable Care Act Fraud

In a new interview, CMS Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz stated that 35% enrollees covered by the Affordable Care Act never used their insurance.

He added,

“So today, we banned, effective immediately, all new agents from Obamacare. Do not come steal money from the American people in Obamacare. We also took those 750,000 people off because they're not people; they're numbers. They are not real. We sent letters to them, carrier pigeons, phone calls. We asked every possible way of getting to them. We could not find these people. They do not exist. They're phantoms; they're ghosts.

2. NIH Reports on New Brain-Computer Interfaces to Help Restore Speech

According to NIH, researchers continue to improve brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) that decode neural signals to generate text or synthetic speech, bypassing damage from conditions including ALS, Parkinson’s disease, strokes, brain injuries, aphasia, or apraxia.

3. USDA Expands Great American Cotton Plan

USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins announced two new initiatives under the Great American Cotton Plan. According to Rollins, the Risk Management Agency will allow producers, including cotton growers, to purchase multiple endorsements on a single crop insurance policy starting with the 2027 crop year. Additionally, the Foreign Agricultural Service will take over a tariff-rate quota process launching in 2027. This is aimed at incentivizing countries including Bangladesh, Indonesia, Cambodia, and Malaysia to purchase American grown cotton.

Today’s Daily Brief covers CMS directing over $106 million in Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) investments across New Hampshire, Montana, and Ohio, updated remarks from Secretary Kennedy detailing clinical trial modernization under ARPA-H, and an update on an FDA regulatory decision on sunscreen from the HHS Secretary.

1. CMS Announces Over $11 Million to Expand Mobile Healthcare in New Hampshire

CMS announced an investment of over $11 million in Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) funding to strengthen emergency medical services and expand Mobile Integrated Health across rural New Hampshire.

According to Secretary Kennedy, “President Trump understands that every American deserves high-quality healthcare, no matter where they live. We are putting resources directly into rural communities to strengthen the health workforce, modernize infrastructure, expand access, and bring care closer to home. We are giving states the flexibility to build solutions around the people they serve, while demanding accountability for results. That is how we strengthen rural health, improve the lives of patients and families, and Make America Healthy Again.”

2. CMS Announces $3.63 Million to Expand Rural EMS in Montana

CMS announced $3.63 million in Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) funding to expand community integrated health services across rural Montana.

According to CMS,

“This transformational funding will deliver awards to 17 rural EMS agencies to cover new or expanded staff positions, transportation costs, equipment, and clinical integration needs such as training and electronic health records. Participating EMS professionals will carry out patient care plans under medical director oversight, extending primary care into the home. Services include post-discharge follow-up, fall risk assessments, wound care, lab draws, point-of-care testing, and resource navigation — helping patients manage chronic conditions like asthma and diabetes while overcoming barriers such as limited transportation and mobility.”

3. CMS Announces Investment of $92 Million to Coordinate Rural Hospital Networks, Improve Maternal Care, and Expand Services Across Ohio

CMS announced an investment of $92 million in Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) funding to help rural providers connect patients to healthcare services closer to their homes throughout Ohio.

The investment includes $31.4 million to establish or expand coordinated rural care networks (such as Clinically Integrated Networks and Rural Health Innovation Hubs) linking physicians, hospitals, clinics, EMS, behavioral health providers, pharmacists, and higher education institutions.

$30.3 million of the investment is earmarked for hospital networks and health centers to improve maternal care. A further $30.3 million is earmarked for equipment and facility upgrades at 22 rural hospitals, including a new behavioral health unit, on-site MRI services, and expanded diagnostic capacity.

4. Secretary Kennedy Discusses Clinical Trial Modernization Efforts

In a new statement, Secretary Kennedy discusses ongoing reforms to modernize clinical trials in order to improve efficaciousness, and better compete with countries like China.

According to the HHS Secretary,

“America should lead the world in turning medical breakthroughs into treatments for patients.

HHS is cutting the delays, duplication, and unnecessary costs that hold clinical trials back. Through ARPA-H, we are building a modern clinical trial system that generates rigorous evidence faster, reduces the burden on patients, and moves effective treatments from discovery to patients sooner."

5. Secretary Kennedy Celebrates FDA Sunscreen Decision

Secretary Kennedy praised the FDA for approving the use of bemotrizinol in new sunscreens.

According to Secretary Kennedy, “Another MAHA win! FDA has cleared the first new sunscreen ingredient in decades: bemotrizinol, used safely in Europe, Australia, and parts of Asia for more than 20 years. Now Americans have access to another option for protecting their skin. We are expanding choice and bringing proven innovations to the American people.”

Today’s Daily Brief covers Vice President Vance’s six-point White House anti-fraud pledge, NIH announcing a record-breaking year for early-stage investigator research grants, CMS issuing emergency waivers and flexibilities to preserve healthcare access across Alabama and Florida following Hurricane Isaias, and USDA statement on specific actions to assist farmers.

1. Secretary Kennedy Signs Vice President’s Anti-Fraud Pledge

In his capacity as the head of the White House Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, Vice President Vance issued an anti-fraud pledge.

According to the Vice President,

“Do you hate fraud?

If so, I’m calling on you to join me in taking the pledge to protect Americans from fraudsters, by doing everything in your power to ensure that:

1. Vulnerable Americans, such as the elderly, indigent, and disabled, are protected from fraudsters who seek to prey on them.

2. Taxpayer-funded programs serve law-abiding Americans, not illegal aliens or fraudsters.

3. Taxpayer-funded benefits are not used by fraudsters to buy mansions or luxury cars.

4. Public agencies and officials work tirelessly and aggressively, coordinating at all levels of government, to stop fraud before payments go out the door.

5. Fraudsters face justice for their crimes in a court of law. Convicted fraudsters will be imprisoned and barred from ever receiving another penny of taxpayer dollars.

6. Illegal alien fraudsters are promptly arrested, prosecuted, imprisoned, and deported, never able to take advantage of Americans’ generosity again.”

In his statement on the pledge, Secretary Kennedy wrote,

“Today, I am proud to sign Vice President Vance’s pledge and join President Trump and the White House Task Force to Eliminate Fraud in the fight against fraud, waste, and abuse.

At HHS, we are protecting taxpayer dollars, holding fraudsters accountable, and making sure federal health and human services programs serve the Americans who depend on them.

Every dollar stolen through fraud takes resources away from Americans in need. We will find it, stop it, and hold those responsible accountable.”

CMS Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz also signed the pledge, saying, “Vance’s Pledge to Protect Americans from Fraud is a commonsense commitment, and I was glad to sign it. CMS will continue working with the White House Task Force to Eliminate Fraud to protect Americans, safeguard their benefits, and save taxpayers billions of dollars.”

2. NIH Announces Recording Breaking Year for Early Career Investigator Grants

NIH Director Dr. Jay Bhattacharya announced that a record number of grants have been issued to early stage investigators. According to the NIH Director,

“Researchers tend to have their best, most innovative ideas early in their careers. But for decades, researchers have had to wait longer and longer to test their own ideas. Thrilled by the progress we’ve made so far on this front, including the huge milestone of setting a new record for grants supporting early-stage investigators.”

3. CMS Issues Waivers to Assist Hurricane Isaias Public Health Emergency in Alabama and Florida

CMS announced it will provide additional resources and regulatory flexibilities to support healthcare access in Alabama and Florida following a Public Health Emergency declared by Secretary Kennedy in response to Hurricane Isaias.

According to an official statement, “CMS’ blanket waivers and other flexibilities are available to providers in Alabama and Florida who have been affected by the hurricane. Healthcare providers that need additional flexibility specific to the effects from the hurricane can submit a request to CMS here: CMS 1135 Waiver/Flexibility Request and Inquiry Form.”

4. USDA Shares Update on Assistance for Farmers

In response to President Trump’s Dyed Diesel Executive Order, USDA provided clarity on actions being taken by the Trump Administration to assist farmers.

According to USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins,

“Last week, President Trumpsigned his dyed-diesel Executive Order. Yesterday, the US Treasury provided important clarification on what that action means for farmers:

No federal tax on dyed diesel used on the highway during the relief period.
No federal dyed-diesel penalties.

No federal on-road dyed-fuel inspections.

No new mileage tracking.

No additional reporting or recordkeeping just to qualify for relief

For farmers pulling fuel from existing farm tanks during harvest, that means no new Washington paperwork, no tracking every mile, and more flexibility to keep crops moving.”

Today’s Daily Brief covers CMS terminating improper ACA exchange subsidies for 189,000 duplicate or deceased enrollees, the FDA launching the Rare Disease Framework Initiative, CMS awarding over $1 million under the Rural Health Transformation Program to recruit and retain early-career physicians across rural Delaware, HHS issuing a final demand to medical organizations to answer for sex-rejecting procedures for minors, and the launch of the voluntary Health Center Healthy Lifestyle Commitment initiative.

1. Trump Administration Takes Action Against ACA and Other Healthcare Fraud

During a major press conference, CMS announced that it identified 189,000 people in 2026 who had subsidized Affordable Care Act (ACA)* coverage on the Federal Marketplace while also enrolled in Medicare, Medicaid, or the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), or who were otherwise listed as deceased.

CMS removed those subsidies after giving individuals (or estates) 30 days to dispute the findings, aiming to stop improper payments and potentially save taxpayers $1.5 billion over the next year.

According to Secretary Kennedy,

“In 2026, CMS identified 189,000 subsidized enrollments involving duplicate Medicare, Medicaid, or CHIP coverage. On records showing enrollee has died, CMS acted to remove improper subsidies in all of these cases. CMS estimates that this work will prevent $738M in improper subsidy payments this year alone. At an annualized rate, this savings exceeds $1.5B. By year’s end CMS expects to prevent more than one million months of improperly subsidized coverage… We will follow the evidence, correct mistakes, and pursue fraud whenever we find it. In every case, we will enforce the eligibility rules before another improper payment goes out.”

Speaking alongside the HHS Secretary, CMS Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz said, “ In 2025, the Biden Administration left a backlog of nearly 550,000 duplicate Medicaid and Obamacare enrollments. By clearing this backlog, the Trump Administration saved nearly $4.4 BILLION.”

2. FDA Launches Rare Disease Framework Initiative to Create Fit-for-Purpose Regulatory Approach for Rare Disease Drugs

The FDA announced the Rare Disease Framework Initiative.

Under the strategic plans outlined by the agency, the FDA will develop an optimized, holistic framework for drug and biologic development that accounts for the unique challenges of rare diseases, including small patient populations, disease-specific nuances, patient needs, product types, and realistically attainable evidence. According to an official statement, only 5% of rare conditions currently have an FDA-approved treatment.

Commenting on this, Secretary Kennedy said, “Americans with rare diseases cannot afford a regulatory system that treats every condition the same. Under President Trump, FDA is rethinking rare disease drug development by putting patients at the center and matching regulatory requirements to the realities of small patient populations. We will remove unnecessary barriers, embrace cutting-edge science, and accelerate promising treatments while upholding FDA’s rigorous standards.”

3. CMS Announces Over $1 Million in RHTP Funding to Support Early Career Physicians in Rural Delaware

CMS announced over $1 million from the Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) to recruit and retain physicians in rural Delaware. The funding will provide two educational awards to eligible medical students in the first year and support an expected 61 housing and relocation awards for graduate medical education applicants, with recipients committing to five years of practice in rural Delaware.

According to CMS Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz, “President Trump made a historic commitment to rural America, and these investments are turning that commitment into better care for patients in communities across Delaware. This is what rural health transformation should look like: federal investment that is putting patients first, driving lasting improvements and expanding healthcare for the hardworking Americans who call these communities home.”

4. HHS Sends Final Demand Notice to Medical Organizations Demanding Clarity on Harmful Sex-Rejecting Procedures

HHS sent a final warning letter to multiple medical organizations, demanding that these organizations clearly state whether they continue to support sex-rejecting procedures for minors.

According to HHS,

“The Department is now requesting a clear statement of the current position of these organizations on sex-rejecting procedures for minors, identification of any planned revisions to their respective guidance, and a timeline for those changes. HHS expects a written response within 10 business days.”

Organizations sent the final warning by HHS include: the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH), American Medical Association, American Psychiatric Association, American Psychological Association, Endocrine Society, and others.

Commenting on this development Secretary Kennedy stated, “When medical organizations set standards that shape the care of children, they have a responsibility to explain the evidence behind those standards. HHS has asked these organizations for clear answers about their current positions, the evidence supporting their guidance, and whether they intend to change it. Parents and clinicians deserve transparency, and we expect these organizations to provide it.”

5. Secretary Kennedy Launches Health Center Healthy Lifestyle Commitment to Advance Nutrition, Prevention, and Healthy Living

Secretary Kennedy and HRSA Administrator Tom Engels, launched the voluntary HHS Health Center Healthy Lifestyle Commitment during a visit to Piedmont Access to Health Services (PATHS) in Chatham, Virginia.

The initiative encourages HRSA-supported health centers nationwide to prioritize nutrition, prevention, and healthy living in patient care by promoting healthy eating aligned with the Dietary Guidelines for Americans (including the new food pyramid and limits on highly processed foods and added sugars), physical activity, adequate sleep, limited screen time, patient education, connections to community resources like gardens and produce programs, and staff training.

*The Affordable Care Act is often referred to as “Obamacare.”

Today’s Daily Brief covers a new candidate endorsement in Georgia, CMS Rural Health Transformation Program awards in Nebraska and Missouri, a confirmation from the Department of War on the rejection of mRNA flu shot mandates, and an address from Secretary Kennedy on federal healthcare price transparency.

1. Georgia Candidate Endorsement

MAHA Institute endorsed Karen Mathiak for Georgia House District 82.

Representative Mathiak is a powerful legislative force who will continue to fight for the health and freedom of Georgians.

She has a strong record of opposition to the root causes of the childhood overmedicalization crisis. Mathiak has likewise been a force of opposition to the liability shields designed to limit the constitutional right to a jury trial when holding pesticide makers to account.

Grounded in preventative health principles, Mathiak demonstrated leadership as a freshman by introducing legislation to remove top-down municipal water fluoridation mandates and empower local communities to decide what enters their public drinking supply, alongside sponsoring bills to make over-the-counter ivermectin accessible to Georgians.

She is a fearless, dedicated, and deeply informed advocate. Mathiak will always put families before government mandates and corporate corruption.

2. CMS Announces Over $177 Million to Recruit Rural Healthcare Workers, Expand Mobile Care, and Modernize Services Across Nebraska

CNS announced over $177 million in Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) funding to strengthen rural healthcare delivery in Nebraska. Funds will be used to increase access to care, bolster workforce development, and investments in technology.

According to Secretary Kennedy, “President Trump understands that every American deserves high-quality healthcare, no matter where they live. We are putting resources directly into rural communities to strengthen the health workforce, modernize infrastructure, expand access, and bring care closer to home. We are giving states the flexibility to build solutions around the people they serve, while demanding accountability for results. That is how we strengthen rural health, improve the lives of patients and families, and Make America Healthy Again.”

3. CMS Announces New Funding to Support Rural Healthcare Workers and Expand Maternal Care Across Missouri

CMS announced more than $2.3 million in Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) funding to strengthen Missouri’s rural healthcare workforce and expand maternal care access.

The investment will support two initiatives. First, $1.46 million will go towards expanding a cost-sharing childcare program involving the state, rural health employers, and families. Second, a $879,000 investment will establish Missouri’s first certified nurse midwife training program.

According to CMS Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz, “Every state knows best what its rural communities need, and thanks to President Trump’s Rural Health Transformation Program, they now have the resources to meet those needs. As states put these resources to work, we’re focused on turning these investments into meaningful, sustainable improvements for the health systems that serve rural Missourians.”

4. Secretary Kennedy Makes Statement on Healthcare Price Transparency

In an official video, Secretary Kennedy discusses efforts being undertaken to give patients upfront cost transparency information.

According to the HHS Secretary,

“Americans should know what their healthcare will cost before they receive it.

President Trump directed us to bring real price transparency to healthcare, and HHS is delivering. These rules give patients clearer, more reliable information to compare costs, understand their coverage, and make informed decisions before they receive care.”

5. Department of War Confirms It Has Not Authorized mRNA Flu Shot

The Department of War confirmed that it has not authorized the use of mRNA based flu shots. According to Under Secretary of War Anthony J. Tata,

“The mRNA flu vaccine is not authorized for use by any Department of War or military entity, to include TRICARE. Per the Secretary of War[‘s]memo, the flu vaccine is optional for all Service members except where a Military Department has requested an exception for instances like basic training and operational deployments.

There is no place for misinformed rumors when considering the health of our Warfighters.”

🗳️We are pleased to endorse Karen Mathiak for Georgia House District 82.

Representative Mathiak is a powerful legislative force who will continue to fight for the health and freedom of Georgians.

She has a strong record of opposition to the root causes of the childhood is. Mathiak has likewise been a force of opposition to the liability shields designed to limit the constitutional right to a jury trial when holding pesticide makers to account.

Grounded in preventative health principles, Mathiak demonstrated leadership as a freshman by introducing legislation to remove top-down municipal water fluoridation mandates and empower local communities to decide what enters their public drinking supply, alongside sponsoring bills to make over-the-counter ivermectin accessible to Georgians.

She is a fearless, dedicated, and deeply informed advocate. Mathiak will always put families before government mandates and corporate corruption.

Today’s Daily Brief covers a new MAHA Institute candidate endorsement in Iowa, the MAHA Institute Summit on Screen & Social Media Harms, and HHS encouraging participation in AHRQ’s Healthcare Choice and Competition Challenge.

1. Iowa Candidate Endorsement

MAHA Institute endorsed Austin Stubbs for Iowa House District 45.

Austin Stubbs is a highly informed grassroots leader and fearless champion for the MAHA mission. Long before the movement gained national prominence, Stubbs was an outspoken advocate for health freedom and nutritional education.

He has opposed liability shields that insulate pesticide and herbicide manufacturers from legal accountability, and prevent Iowans from exercising their right to a jury trial.

Inspired by his family's direct experience supporting individuals with special needs and autism, Stubbs understands the urgency of addressing childhood chronic disease. He is ready to partner with legislative champions like Representative Jeff Shipley to end the pediatric overmedicalization crisis, dismantle state water fluoridation, and demand full public health data transparency to uncover the root causes of the chronic disease epidemic.

2. MAHA Institute Summit on Screen & Social Media Harms

MAHA Institute will convene a Summit on Screen & Social Media Harms on October 21, 2026 at The Willard Hotel in Washington, DC.

This full-day event will bring together policymakers, researchers, and advocates to examine the mounting evidence linking excessive screen time and social media use to childhood developmental harm and chronic disease. This issue was formally identified by the MAHA Commission’s federal strategy report as one of four key drivers of the childhood health crisis, alongside poor diet, chemical exposures, and overmedicalization.

Speakers will explore the full landscape of concern from the neurological and developmental effects of excessive device use on children to the policy questions around age verification, parental rights, and the limits of government intervention. The Summit will emphasize family-empowerment solutions that protect children without compromising civil liberties or privacy.

If you are interested in attending the Summit, you may register here.

3. HHS Encourages Americans to Participate in Healthcare Choice and Competition Challenge

HHS encouraged members of the public to participate in The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality’s (AHRQ) Healthcare Choice and Competition Challenge.

The Challenge aims to fund scholarly research on market-based strategies that increase competition, reduce ineffective regulations, and expand patient choice. According to an HHS statement, “President Trump and Secretary Kennedy are committed to limiting financial barriers by pushing for innovative solutions from the nation's top leaders in healthcare.”

🗳️We are pleased to endorse Austin Stubbs for Iowa House District 45.

Austin Stubbs is a highly committed grassroots leader and fearless champion for the MAHA mission. Long before the movement gained national prominence, Stubbs was an outspoken advocate for metabolic health, dual choice.

He has shown total willingness to confront powerful corporate interests by standing up to executive leadership in order to oppose liability shields that insulate pesticide and herbicide manufacturers from legal accountability.

Inspired by his family's direct experience supporting individuals with special needs and autism, Stubbs understands the urgency of addressing childhood chronic disease. He is ready to partner with legislative champions like Representative Jeff Shipley to halt the pediatric over-medicalization pipeline, dismantle state water fluoridation, and demand full public health data transparency to uncover the root causes of the chronic disease epidemic.

Today’s Daily Brief covers CMS Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz outlining outcome-based reimbursement under the ACCESS technology initiative , and HHS issuing a final call for public comments on electromagnetic field (EMF) and radiofrequency (RF) radiation harms.

1. Dr. Oz Explains Benefits of SI in Healthcare

Speaking with CNBS, CMS Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz explained the potential benefits of super intelligence (SI) in healthcare delivery.

According to Dr. Oz,

“If you have the ability to use super intelligence [SI] to make the process more efficient, you shouldn’t charge using the old tactics. You should charge based on outcomes. If I take care of Becky [interview Rebecca Quick], and she does better, I get paid. If she doesn’t get better, I’m not getting paid.We are actually launching, as we did last year with the first batch of these….an initiative called ACCESS: The Unleashing of Technology in Healthcare.

By that I mean, in the past, many of the big technology companies sat on the sidelines because they couldn’t get paid if they built an app to help me take care of you better, to help with your diabetes, or to help with the emotional distress you were suffering from. Now we are paying companies not just to churn or talk to you, but to actually take care of you. If your outcomes are better….if your diabetes improves or your blood pressure comes down, we will pay you.

Now a doctor can prescribe that for you without having to do it all themselves. They can say, 'Becky, I diagnosed you with a problem. To take care of your diabetes, you need to eat differently, exercise, and sleep. I can’t walk you through that every single day of your life. Here’s an app that I think is a good one; the government has vetted it.'

Big companies and small companies are out there, making it very competitive. We have 800 companies that have signed the pledge, and 160 are already making these tools for the American people. That digitizes our experience.”

HHS Called Upon Americans to Comment on Potential Electromagnetic Fields (EMFs), and Radiofrequency (RF) Harms

HHS encouraged Americans to submit public comment on the potential harms of electromagnetic fields (EMFs), radiofrequency (RF) radiation, and wireless radiation exposure.

According to an official statement, “HHS is investigating the relationship between electromagnetic radiation and human health — a clear directive from the MAHA Strategy Report — and has launched a formal Request for Information that closes October 21st.”

2. The non-profit group Children’s Health Defense provided the following statement on the matter,

“We are surrounded by electromagnetic radiation (EMR), yet the long-term health effects of chronic exposure, especially on children, have not been studied.

Now is your opportunity to tell HHS why independent research, updated safety standards, and protecting children from unnecessary exposure must be priorities.

Have you or your family experienced health issues connected to wireless radiation? Share your story.

Public comments are open through October 21, 2026.”

Today’s Daily Brief covers HHS scheduling recommendations to target concentrated and synthetic kratom-derived opioids, the USDA delivering nearly $4 billion in expanded farm safety net payments under the Working Families Tax Cuts Act, and CMS Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz highlighting a 7% decline in national obesity rates.

1. HHS Recommends New Standards for Enhanced Kratom Products

HHS published new recommendations intended for DEA use in potential enforcement actions against “potent opioid compounds associated with products marketed as kratom.”

This coincided with a DOJ announcement regarding “emergency scheduling actions targeting 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH) and three potent opioid substances related to 7-OH: mitragynine pseudoindoxyl (MGPI), MGM-15, and MGM-16.”

HHS recommended that the DEA should implement “concentration- and ratio-based thresholds to temporarily schedule the potent opioid compounds 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH) and mitragynine pseudoindoxyl (MGPI) under Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act.”

According to Secretary Kennedy, “We are drawing a clear line between natural kratom and dangerous, enhanced opioid products. We listened to the public, followed the science, and developed a clear recommended threshold for temporary scheduling that targets concentrated 7-OH and MGPI without sweeping natural botanical kratom into Schedule I. The Trump Administration will continue taking decisive action against dangerous products that fuel addiction while making sure our policies are grounded in rigorous science.”

2. USDA Announces Nearly $4 Billion in Additional ARC and PLC Payments Under Working Families Tax Cuts Act

USDA announced it is strengthening farm safety net support through the Working Families Tax Cuts Act (H.R. 1). According to an official statement, the agency is increasing Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC) payments by nearly $4 billion nationwide. Following these increases, ARC and PLC will total $13.4 billion.

The agency encouraged members of the public to explore an interactive map showing state-by-state funding totals and increases.

3. Dr. Oz Credits President Trump and Secretary Kennedy For Declining Obesity Rates

CMS Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz praised President Trump and Secretary Kennedy’s efforts addressing the nation’s obesity crisis.

According to Dr. Oz,

“Medicare and Medicaid is a $2 trillion budget program. It's twice the size of the defense budget. And it is driven primarily by chronic illness. We are twice as expensive to deal with per capita because we're twice as fat. So when Secretary Kennedy speaks about the MAHA movement and the need for us to get folks back in shape again—and and this is actually starting to show dividends, because just with the GLP-1 drugs, the weight loss drugs, we're starting to see, and lifestyle changes, about a 7% drop in obesity over the last two years.”

Today’s Daily Brief covers candidate endorsements Iowa, the nationwide launch of the HHS NEST program, CMS Rural Health Transformation Program awards in Louisiana and Iowa, and NINR opening public comments on the future of nursing.

1. Iowa Candidate Endorsements

MAHA Institute endorsed Kevin Alons for Iowa Senate District 7.

A stalwart defender of constitutional rights, data transparency, and fundamental liberties, Senator Kevin Alons brings a refreshingly analytical perspective to the Iowa Senate.

Having served for almost three decades in uniform and attaining the rank of colonel in the Iowa Air National Guard, Senator Alons saw firsthand the destructive impact of military vaccine mandates, recognizing early on that institutional overreach poses an existential threat to personal freedom.

As a software developer, systems architect, and small business owner, he approaches public health not through political slogans, but through rigorous data analysis, principled leadership, and an unwavering commitment to restoring America’s foundational values and liberties.

MAHA Institute endorsed Dan Gehlbach for Iowa House District 46.

Representative Gehlbach is a powerful legislative force against childhood over-medicalization and clinical overreach. In the Iowa House, Gehlbach led the successful effort to mandate that public schools notify parents of available exemptions to medical mandates, ensuring families understand their lawful opt-out rights.

He also introduced and supported legislation closing legal loopholes by requiring affirmative parental consent before minors can receive HPV and hepatitis B vaccinations, restoring parental authority where state policies had previously bypassed it.

An outspoken critic of school-derived overmedicalization, Gehlbach opposes the instruments of the overmedicalization crisis that pathologize youth and undermine informed consent.

2. HHS Launches NEST Program to Provide New Mothers With Key Supplies

HHS, through the Office of Intergovernmental and External Affairs with the Health Resources and Services Administration, launched the Newborn Essentials Support Toolkit (NEST) at West Virginia University Medicine Golisano Children’s Hospital.

NEST will provide new mothers a toolkit which includes diapers, baby wipes, an infant thermometer, postpartum and breastfeeding supplies, a blood pressure monitor, and reading materials on childcare.

According to Secretary Kennedy, “President Trump is putting mothers, babies, and strong families at the center of his health agenda. Through NEST, HHS is delivering essential supplies and trusted health information directly to families around the time of birth, including in rural and underserved communities. I thank Governor Morrisey for partnering with us to launch this next phase in West Virginia and help more mothers care for themselves and their newborns.”

In an official statement, HHS said, “In 2026, Congress provided funding to continue the work of the Newborn Supply Kit. Through HRSA, HHS awarded $5 million in funding to the CDC Foundation to support implementation of NEST. The CDC Foundation also partners with HHS through an established public-private partnership supporting evaluation of the program.”

3. CMS Announces $37.7 Million to Train and Recruit More Rural Healthcare Workers Across Louisiana

CMS announced an investment of $37.7 million in Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) funding to strengthen Louisiana’s rural healthcare workforce through education, training, recruitment, and retention.

Up to $20 million of the funds will be used to connect public universities and community and technical colleges with rural providers so training matches local needs. $12.7 million will help 53 rural providers recruit and retain physicians, nurses, dentists, EMS personnel, behavioral health professionals, and other clinicians through sign-on and retention bonuses, relocation assistance, and training. A further $5 million will be used to create healthcare career pathways across 39 campuses.

4. CMS Announces $209 Million to Expand Advanced Medical Care, Maternal Telehealth, and Cancer Prevention Across Rural Iowa

CMS announced that Iowa is its full $209 million in fiscal year 2026 Rural Health Transformation Program funding to work through the state’s Healthy Hometowns initiative.

The investment is meant to expand clinical and maternal health services, develop the rural workforce, support cancer prevention and screening, strengthen EMS and mobile health, and modernize technology and infrastructure.

Much of the funding will be used to equip rural hospitals with tools such as robotic-assisted orthopedic surgery and launch Iowa’s first Maternal-Fetal Medicine Telehealth Network.

5. NINR Seeks Public Comments on Its Strategic Plan for Fiscal Years 2027–2031

NIH’s National Institute of Nursing Research (NIRN) is seeking public input on future regulations and guidance that will impact the nursing profession. According to NIH, “The plan will help guide NINR’s scientific priorities and future direction as it advances nursing research to address urgent health challenges and inform health care practice to improve health for all.”

Feedback must be submitted by the 1st of November, 2026.

🗳️We are pleased to endorse Dan Gehlbach for Iowa House District 46.

Representative Gehlbach is an unyielding legislative force against childhood over-medicalization and institutional overreach. In the Iowa House, Gehlbach led the successful effort to mandate that public schools able immunization exemptions, ensuring families understand their lawful opt-out rights.

He also introduced and championed legislation closing legal loopholes by requiring affirmative parental consent before minors can receive HPV and hepatitis B vaccinations, restoring parental authority where state policies had previously bypassed it.

An outspoken critic of school-derived overmedicalization, Gehlbach opposes embedded clinics and mental health diagnostic pipelines that pathologize youth and undermine informed consent. He is deeply committed to defending natural resources and community wellness by opposing forced municipal water fluoridation and standing firm against corporate liability shields for pesticide manufacturers.

🗳️We are pleased to endorse Kevin Alons for Iowa Senate District 7.

A committed defender of constitutional sovereignty, data transparency, and fundamental constitutional liberties, Senator Kevin Alons brings an uncompromising, analytical perspective to the Iowa Senate.

Having decades in uniform and attaining the rank of colonel in the Iowa Air National Guard, Senator Alons saw firsthand the destructive impact of military vaccine mandates, recognizing early on that institutional overreach poses an existential threat to personal freedom.

As a software developer, systems architect, and small business owner, he approaches public health not through political slogans, but through rigorous data analysis, principled leadership, and an unwavering commitment to restoring America’s foundational values and liberties.