Wisconsin Senator Ron Johnson, a prominent member of the recently established Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) caucus, has revealed his intention to prioritize an investigation into what he terms the "corruption of science" within the public health system. In an exclusive interview, Senator Johnson stated that this inquiry would be one of the first hearings he aims to conduct as chair of the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations.
Senator Johnson expressed his hope that the MAHA caucus will play a crucial role in restoring integrity to the scientific community while also supporting the agenda of newly appointed Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. He emphasized the importance of addressing this issue as a foundational step, stating, "That's just foundational, we have to do that first."
The MAHA caucus, founded in December by Senator Roger Marshall of Kansas, aims to tackle critical health issues such as nutrition, access to affordable and nutritious food, primary care improvement, and addressing the root causes of chronic diseases. The caucus effectively serves as a congressional extension of RFK Jr.'s health agenda.
While currently composed solely of Republicans, Senator Johnson emphasized the nonpartisan nature of the MAHA movement. Among the issues he hopes the caucus will explore are the childhood vaccine schedule and potential connections to autism. He stressed the importance of open inquiry, stating, "We haven't even been allowed to ask these questions. I'd like to hold a hearing on what questions remain unanswered, what science needs to be conducted with integrity to start answering these questions."
Senator Johnson further criticized the influence of "Big Pharma" and former NIAID director Dr. Anthony Fauci, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, alleging that the HHS and scientific community were "captured" by these entities. He highlighted MAHA's objective to dismantle this corporate influence over federal health agencies and restore their focus on serving the American public.
To achieve this, Senator Johnson is considering introducing a "Right to Treat" bill, which he believes would empower doctors by placing them at the forefront of patient care, rather than being subjected to directives from non-practicing physicians and health organizations. He argued that the current system is "completely backwards" and needs to be reformed.
RFK Jr.'s recent confirmation as HHS Secretary, which largely followed party lines, has been met with controversy due to his past statements on vaccines. His critical stance on "Big Pharma" and "Big Food" during his independent presidential campaign continues to be a focal point of his work within the MAHA movement under the Trump administration.
Following RFK Jr.'s appointment, significant personnel changes within HHS and other federal departments, including numerous dismissals, have sparked protests from federal employees.
