Trump and Kennedy’s Health Industry Deals Haven’t Been Enforced and Are at Risk of Vanishing
The agreements, covering issues like drug pricing, reducing the use of synthetic food dyes, and cutting back on insurance prior authorization rules, were announced with fanfare and touted as victories. But it’s not clear whether they’ll result in lasting change.
Republican Rep. Tom Barrett teamed up with Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. at a large apple orchard during a competitive re-election campaign. They discussed improving the American diet, including removing certain artificial dyes from food and drugs. Kennedy claimed victory after a year, but only seven food makers had removed six synthetic dyes by December 2025.
The FDA quietly extended the deadline to the end of 2027, while no pharmaceutical companies have committed to removing dyes from drugs. Some experts believe the administration's dealmaking strategy is a winning tactic, but critics argue there is little transparency and follow-through, raising doubts about lasting change.
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