Update: What We’re Watching, Aug. 21, 2025

Strategy documents leaked in advance of the release of the second Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) Commission report outlined strategies for the drivers of childhood chronic illness identified by the Commission. The report did not include changes to the regulation of pesticides. President Donald Trump is reviewing a recommendation to reclassify marijuana to a Schedule III drug. Kansas has not reported a new case of measles for the third week in a row, despite an increase in national cases. Here is some of the health-related news we are watching that could have an impact on Kansas.

The views expressed in the following news stories, news releases or documents are not necessarily those of the Kansas Health Institute (KHI). They are being shared with the intent of keeping Kansans informed of the latest developments related to federal health policy.

U.S. Health and Human Services Updates

1. MAHA Documents Leaked   

Draft documents leaked in advance of the second MAHA report last week outlined strategies to address the four main drivers of childhood illness identified in the first report published in May. The first report included exposure to environmental chemicals, including pesticides, among the contributors to rising childhood illnesses, along with ultra-processed foods, pervasive technology use, and increased use of medications. However, the leaked strategy documents did not include any mandates related to the use of pesticides. More than 250 groups representing farmers, ranchers and agrochemical companies had several meetings with the White House to discuss potential Commission recommendations. The draft documents said the Environmental Protection Agency will explore and evaluate the risks of combined exposure to pesticides and will work with the U.S. Department of Agriculture to research agricultural technologies that may decrease the volume of pesticide used. Further information will be available once the official report is released.

🔗 Read the draft: Draft MAHA strategy document 

🔗 Read more from Politico: Kennedy Might Not Get His Way on Pesticides 

🔗 Read more from Reuters: Draft ‘MAHA’ commission report avoids pesticide crackdown feared by farm groups 

🔗 Read more about the first MAHA report from KHI: Unpacking the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) Initiative 

2. “Administration for a Healthy America” Proposal Stalled 

Five months after HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy announced plans for a new “Administration for a Healthy America,” the proposal remains stalled. The agency was intended to consolidate several federal health offices to reduce duplication and cut costs, but ongoing litigation and lack of congressional support have slowed progress. Congress could formally create the agency by codifying its authorities and appropriating dedicated funding, while the administration can take limited steps on its own, such as reorganizing certain offices or aligning existing programs with its priorities, which it has already done. 

🔗 Read more from Roll Call: Trump’s health agency streamlining goals hit roadblock – Roll Call 

3. Possible Marijuana Reclassification  

For more than 50 years, marijuana has been classified under federal law as a Schedule I drug, a category reserved for substances considered highly addictive and without medical benefit. In 2022, President Joe Biden directed federal agencies to review how marijuana is scheduled, and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recommended moving it to a Schedule III, where it would be recognized as having medical uses and a lower risk of abuse. On Aug. 11, President Trump announced that he is open to continuing the rescheduling effort and expects to make a decision in the coming weeks. For Kansas, which is one of only a few states that has not legalized marijuana for any use, the impact could be significant. A change in federal classification would not legalize marijuana nationwide or directly alter state laws. It could, however, ease restrictions on research, reduce tax burdens on marijuana businesses and expand access to banking and financial services in jurisdictions where it is legal. Rescheduling may also prompt renewed discussion in Kansas about medical marijuana, given shifting federal policy.  

🔗 Read more from The Hill: Trump signals push to finish Biden’s marijuana reform 

4. Measles Update: No New Cases  

Kansas has not reported new measles cases for the third week in a row, while national numbers have continued to grow.  According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an outbreak of measles may be considered “over” after 42 days without new cases. As students are returning for the new school year, experts are encouraging schools, students and families to adopt and encourage healthy hygiene practices.  

🔗 Read more from the Johnson County Post: Kansas reports no new measles cases in three weeks 

🔗 Read the KDHE Outbreak Dashboard: Measles Outbreak Data | KDHE, KS