Steve Cortes on Importance of MAHA: 'We’re the richest country in the world and we’re the sickest country in the world”

Steve Cortes, founder of the League of American Workers, said the “Make America Healthy Again” (MAHA) movement is driven by a stark reality about the nation’s health, arguing the United States faces worsening outcomes despite record healthcare spending.

“We’re the richest country in the world and we’re the sickest country in the world,” Cortes said on the Health Policy Podcast, pointing to rising chronic illness, declining life expectancy, and increasing rates of conditions like pre-diabetes and autism among younger Americans.

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He said the movement, often referred to as MAHA, reflects both policy reform efforts and a broader cultural shift toward prevention, nutrition, and individual responsibility. “We became a nation that is largely addicted to ultra processed food,” Cortes said, adding that the current system focuses on “managing sickness largely through pharmaceuticals” rather than addressing root causes.

Cortes linked growing skepticism of public health institutions to the COVID-19 pandemic, arguing it exposed flaws in how medical guidance was communicated and enforced. “People realized that we were being systemically lied to,” he said, adding that the period led many Americans to question existing health systems and seek alternative approaches.

He described MAHA as emphasizing prevention and “upstream care,” which he said involves addressing lifestyle factors before illness develops. “Let’s not wait until you are sick enough… that you need intense intervention,” Cortes said, advocating for improved diet, increased physical activity, and reduced reliance on pharmaceuticals where possible.

Cortes also pointed to federal dietary guidelines and vaccine recommendations as areas where policy changes are underway, framing them as part of a broader effort to align U.S. health practices with other developed nations.

Beyond health outcomes, Cortes argued the current trajectory is financially unsustainable.

“We simply cannot afford the trajectory we are on,” he said, citing healthcare spending as a major contributor to federal debt.

The League of American Workers, which Cortes founded, is an advocacy organization focused on economic and labor policy issues, including promoting domestic job growth, opposing offshoring, and supporting policies aimed at strengthening wages and employment opportunities for American workers.

Cortes is a former senior advisor to President Donald Trump and a media commentator who produces documentary content focused on public policy issues, including health, energy, and governance.