How Big Industry May Have Undermined US Chronic Disease Policies Under Trump

A new study has exposed how major industries may have weakened US efforts to tackle chronic diseases during the Trump administration. Published in The New England Journal of Medicine, the research claims that fossil fuel, chemical, and ultraprocessed food companies used tactics borrowed from the tobacco industry to block stricter regulations. The investigation was led by scientists from the Center to End Corporate Harm. They analysed internal industry documents from the University of California, San Francisco's Industry Documents Library. These records, obtained through lawsuits and freedom of information requests, reveal a deliberate strategy to downplay health risks and resist oversight.

The study argues that the Trump administration's *Make America Healthy Again* Commission failed to address key hazards. For example, it did not push for tighter controls on pesticides like glyphosate, despite concerns over their links to chronic illnesses. While the paper highlights a pattern of industry influence, it notes a lack of direct evidence tying specific lobbying efforts to Trump-era health policies. One unrelated announcement—Trump's support for a new refinery backed by Reliance Industries—was cited, but no connection to chronic disease regulation was established.

The findings suggest that corporate interests may have shaped policy decisions under Trump, mirroring past tactics by the tobacco sector. However, the study stops short of proving direct causation between industry actions and the administration's approach to chronic disease prevention. The research relies on documented strategies rather than concrete proof of policy interference.