Divisions within Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s “Make America Healthy Again” (Maha) movement are raising concerns among Republicans ahead of the midterm elections, as internal conflicts threaten the group’s political influence. Originally a grassroots health initiative focused on wellness and vaccine skepticism, Maha has evolved into a formal government policy effort under Kennedy, who was appointed health secretary in the Trump administration after ending his independent 2024 presidential bid and endorsing former President Donald Trump.
The tensions surfaced prominently at Maha’s health conference in Washington, where nine public companies, including technology firms OpenAI and Anthropic and insurer UnitedHealth, were scheduled to speak—more than twice the number from the previous year. Some grassroots supporters expressed alarm over the organization’s efforts to secure substantial corporate sponsorships of up to $300,000 for panel participation and private meetings with administration officials, which they believe represents a shift toward lobbying and dilution of the movement’s original ethos.
Maha’s grassroots base, which emphasizes natural remedies and opposition to genetically modified organisms and pesticides, claims the movement has been overtaken by biotech enthusiasts and corporate interests. Zen Honeycutt, head of Moms Across America, described a divergence between the founding mothers’ focus and the newer elements in the movement that embrace biohacking technologies.
Kennedy, who remains the most popular member of Trump’s cabinet according to recent polling, has been actively campaigning for Republican candidates in battleground states. Maha has increasingly directed campaign funds to preferred candidates, particularly in close races. The Iowa governorship contest, featuring Republican Zach Lahn, is seen as a critical test of the movement’s broader political viability. Lahn, who has prioritized clean water reforms and addressing the state’s elevated rates of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and leukemia, received a $1 million Maha contribution and has campaigned alongside Kennedy.
Although Kennedy has championed environmental health issues such as regulating herbicides linked to cancer, his stance on glyphosate—an active ingredient in Roundup linked to cancer claims—has sparked significant internal friction within Maha. Despite initially opposing the herbicide, Kennedy supported a Trump executive order in February 2025 that promoted glyphosate for agricultural use, causing disillusionment among loyalists who viewed this as a major setback. Nevertheless, Kennedy welcomed a subsequent announcement for joint oversight on glyphosate by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Environmental Protection Agency.
As health secretary, Kennedy oversees a vast $1.7 trillion budget agency comprising various divisions, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). He played a role in advocating for Johns Hopkins surgeon Marty Makary to lead the FDA. However, the administration’s reversal on flavored e-cigarettes, following pressure from Trump, led to Makary’s resignation and further complications.
Kennedy’s longstanding vaccine skepticism remains a contentious issue within the Republican Party. Many party leaders view his doubts about vaccine efficacy as a liability, with some cautioning that such rhetoric could alienate moderate voters. Pollster Whit Ayres highlighted that most Americans credit vaccines with eradicating serious diseases and that Kennedy’s stance places GOP candidates in difficult positions.
Meanwhile, some of Maha’s most dedicated vaccine skeptics feel marginalized by the movement’s shift under government auspices. Houston doctor Mary Talley Bowden noted that those focused on medical freedom and pandemic-related issues perceive themselves as excluded from the administration-backed Maha agenda.
The Department of Health and Human Services clarified that government officials did not participate in planning corporate sponsorships at the Maha conference. As the movement grapples with internal discord and public scrutiny, its impact on the Republican prospects in November’s elections remains uncertain.