RFK Jr.s Health Report Discredited for Citing Fake Studies

In May 2025, the "Make America Healthy Again" (MAHA) Report, spearheaded by Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and unveiled at the White House by former President Donald Trump, promised a transformative overhaul of the U.S. public health system. However, a thorough investigation by the nonprofit news outlet NOTUS uncovered alarming flaws: multiple citations within the report referenced studies that simply do not exist.

NOTUS reporters spent five days scrutinizing the MAHA Report's 522 citations, finding dozens of broken links, incorrect authorship, and wrong journal issue numbers. Most concerning were at least seven studies cited that could not be found anywhere in academic databases or journals.

For example, the report claims that direct-to-consumer drug advertising has increased ADHD and depression prescriptions among children, citing a 2009 study by Robert L. Findling. Yet, this study does not exist, and Findling himself confirmed he never authored such research. Similarly, a 2017 paper on overprescribing corticosteroids for children with asthma was also fabricated.

Even some real studies cited were misrepresented. One referenced paper on screen time and sleep was published in a different journal than claimed and studied adults, not children as the report suggested. These inaccuracies undermine the report's credibility and raise questions about the rigor of its research process.

When confronted with these findings, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt dismissed the issues as "formatting problems" that would be corrected in an updated version. She maintained that the report's substance remains valid and transformative despite the citation errors.

Speculation has emerged about whether artificial intelligence (AI) tools were involved in generating the report. AI is known to fabricate plausible but false information, including entire studies or books, when prompted to produce citations. The White House declined to confirm or deny AI usage in this case.

This incident highlights the risks of relying on AI-generated content without thorough human verification. While AI can accelerate research and report writing, unchecked use can lead to misinformation and damage public trust, especially in critical fields like health policy.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a controversial figure known for anti-vaccine views and skepticism of germ theory, remains in charge of this public health initiative despite the scandal. The MAHA Report’s flaws raise serious concerns about the direction and reliability of U.S. health policy reforms under his leadership.

This case serves as a cautionary tale for policymakers, researchers, and technologists: embracing AI tools requires rigorous validation processes to prevent the spread of false information. The stakes are especially high when public health and safety are involved.