Indiana Governor Braun Launches 'Make Indiana Healthy Again' Orders, Earns Kennedy’s Applause

Indiana Governor Mike Braun is on a mission to 'Make Indiana Healthy Again'—and he's not just talking the talk. On Tuesday, Braun signed a sweeping package of nine executive orders aimed at shaking up health policy and putting the state on a cleaner, fresher path.

Joining Braun for the big announcement were Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and CMS Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz. The trio took the stage to highlight the importance of healthy eating and to champion the new policies. Braun made it clear: instead of the usual government-heavy health mandates, this set of orders is about tackling root causes and empowering Hoosiers with clear information. "We’re focused on root causes, giving Hoosiers the transparent information to make decisions affecting their health, making it easier to access fresh local food from Indiana’s incredible farms, and taking on the problems in government programs that are contributing to making our communities less healthy," Braun said.

One of the flashiest changes? Braun is targeting the SNAP program. Able-bodied adults not working will now need to seek employment, and—brace yourself, sweet tooths—candy and soft drinks are officially off the SNAP shopping list. Braun pointed out that more SNAP dollars were being spent on junk food than on fruits and vegetables, a reality he seems determined to flip.

The orders also call for a study on the effects of artificial food dyes and lay out a comprehensive strategy for tackling chronic disease, with a big focus on improving diets across Indiana. Honestly, if there were a contest for 'State Most Likely to Eat Its Veggies,' Indiana just threw its hat in the ring.

Kennedy, never one to shy away from a bold health initiative, praised Braun’s "courageous and visionary leadership" and urged other governors to follow suit. Dr. Oz added his own spin, saying that focusing on prevention and healthy lifestyle choices can set the stage for long-term success for young people.

This isn’t just an Indiana story: governors around the country are reimagining SNAP to help fight the national obesity epidemic. Just last month, Kennedy was in West Virginia, joking about putting Governor Patrick Morrisey on an intense exercise routine and a carnivore diet. West Virginia, Mississippi, and Arkansas currently top the CDC’s obesity charts, so there’s certainly no shortage of motivation.

Governor Morrisey, for his part, celebrated the SNAP reforms in his state, saying he’s "putting ‘nutrition’ back into the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program." Now, if only the rest of us could get someone to banish candy from our pantries with a signature.