Commentary
The first 100 days of a presidency, known as the honeymoon period, are a high-stakes sprint. Armed with an electoral mandate, President Trump holds immense political capital to drive his agenda through executive orders, regulatory reforms, and legislative pushes.
As we approach the 100-day mark on April 30, Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is capitalizing on this window with bold moves—reorganizing HHS, tackling harmful food dyes, and probing autism’s rise. These actions, perfectly timed, set the stage for transformative mid- and long-term reforms. As the former Deputy Assistant Secretary for Health in Trump’s first administration, I see Kennedy’s strategy as a masterclass in political timing, with even greater victories on the horizon.
Mastering the Honeymoon’s Leverage
Trump’s slim but unified Congress—53 Senate seats and a House majority—gives Kennedy a rare window to act decisively before 2026 mid-terms risk flipping power. His April actions show he understands this. His reorganization of HHS into the Administration for a Healthy America (AHA), consolidating HR and policy, streamlines a $1.7 trillion bureaucracy before June budget hearings. These executive and personnel moves, paired with FDA Commissioner Marty Makary’s April 10 ban on biopharma insiders in advisory roles, cement Kennedy’s short-term wins while the administration’s mandate is strong.Navigating Political Realities
A president’s four-year term hinges on two congressional sessions, and history shows mid-terms often punish the ruling party—Trump lost the House in 2018. Kennedy’s team knows that failing to deliver risks voter backlash, especially with activist judges using nationwide injunctions to stall reforms. By acting now, before summer recesses and 2026 campaigns, Kennedy maximizes Trump’s current control of the executive and legislative branches. His April 16 press conference on autism’s rise (one in 31 kids), including a push for environmental toxin studies, keeps HHS in the spotlight. This short-term focus via executive authority builds momentum for complex regulatory and legislative battles ahead.Mid- and Long-Term Horizons
Regulatory and legislative approaches, which take longer, are Kennedy’s next frontier. Four priorities stand out:- Dietary Guidelines Overhaul: Secretary Kennedy’s Southwest tour, launched April 4, celebrated Utah and Arizona’s bans on school food dyes and SNAP soda purchases. Updating federal dietary guidelines with the USDA, expected by fall 2025, will combat obesity (40 percent of adults) and chronic diseases, building on state momentum.
- Family Planning Reform: The first Trump administration’s Title X rules, separating abortion providers like Planned Parenthood from federal funds, saved millions. Kennedy is poised to reinstate similar regulations by early 2026, aligning with pro-life voters before midterms.
- mRNA Vaccine Review: Reports suggest HHS may pull mRNA COVID vaccines from childhood schedules, reflecting public skepticism. A regulatory review, likely starting this summer, could redefine vaccine policy.
- Budget and Structural Reform: Kennedy will work with Congress to strengthen AHA, NIH, FDA, and CDC reforms, capitalizing on DOGE’s cuts to propose a leaner HHS budget in 2026, ensuring long-term efficiency.
Why Timing Matters
Kennedy’s first-100-day blitz—executive orders, personnel shifts, and state partnerships—exploits the honeymoon’s political capital. By acting before mid-term politicking and judicial roadblocks intensify, he’s laying a foundation for durable change. His nutritional focus resonates broadly, avoiding the 60 percent disapproval Michelle Obama faced on school lunches by emphasizing choice.If Secretary Kennedy builds on these wins, delivering regulatory and legislative victories by 2026, Republicans will carry a powerful health message into mid-terms, potentially retaining Congress. It will take more than two years to begin to restore trust in an agency that lost a significant amount of it during the COVID pandemic. But, at this pace, it is clear that even though President Trump and Secretary Kennedy’s actions have been impactful, the best is yet to come.
Views expressed in this article are opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
