HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to end fluoridation of U.S. drinking water

04/09/2025 / By Laura Harris

HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. plans to phase out water fluoridation, citing overstated dental benefits and emerging evidence of health risks, including lower childhood IQ and thyroid disruption.
The CDC will be directed to rescind its fluoridation recommendation while the EPA reviews fluoride regulations. A federal task force will reassess the policy in light of new scientific data.
A federal court ordered the EPA to reevaluate fluoride limits after the National Toxicology Program linked high fluoride levels (above 1.5 mg/L) to cognitive deficits in children, aligning with international studies.
Utah became the first state to prohibit fluoride in public water, with Gov. Spencer Cox signing a bill overriding public health objections. Kennedy praised the move, calling for other states to follow.
Florida is considering similar legislation after its Surgeon General opposed fluoridation, with nearly two dozen localities already halting the practice. State and local governments retain final authority despite federal policy shifts.

Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has revealed that he would phase out the decades-long practice of adding fluoride to drinking water, citing mounting evidence of potential harm to public health.

Fluoridation has been a cornerstone of U.S. public health policy since the 1950s, credited with drastically reducing cavities. Currently, around 73 percent of Americans receive fluoridated water, with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommending levels at 0.7 milligrams per liter (mg/L). The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) enforces a maximum contaminant level of 4.0 mg/L to prevent skeletal fluorosis, a bone-weakening condition.

Kennedy, a long-time critic of water fluoridation, argued that research now links excessive fluoride to lower IQ in children, thyroid disruption and other health issues. (Related: Fluoride in drinking water poses serious risks to children, pregnant women.)

Last August, the National Toxicology Program (NTP) reported a “moderate confidence” association between high fluoride exposure (above 1.5 mg/L) and cognitive deficits in kids – echoing findings from international studies in China, Mexico and Canada. In September, a federal court ordered the EPA to review fluoride regulations, citing potential risks to childhood brain development.

In line with this, Kennedy revealed plans to direct the CDC to rescind its recommendation for fluoridating community water supplies. He is also assembling a federal task force to review the policy, while the EPA separately evaluates new scientific data on the possible risks of fluoride.

Utah bans fluoride in public drinking water

This move fulfills a pledge Kennedy made last November when he declared that a Trump administration would target fluoride removal. Though initially unfulfilled, the issue gained traction after Trump appointed Kennedy as the new HHS Secretary.

The HHS cannot mandate fluoride removal but can deprioritize CDC endorsements. Local governments ultimately decide whether to fluoridate, though changes to EPA limits could force adjustments. Utah has led other states in this initiative.

Utah has become the first state to ban fluoride in public drinking water after Republican Gov. Spencer Cox signed a legislative measure prohibiting communities from adding the mineral, defying warnings from dental associations and public health officials.

“Community water fluoridation and informed consent, which is foundational to good health care, cannot coexist,” Utah State Rep. Stephanie Gricius (R-District 50), a sponsor of the bill, said in January. “I believe strongly in individual choice when it comes to what prescriptions we put into our bodies.”

Kennedy, who called Utah “the leader in making America healthy again,” praised the law, which requires water systems to end fluoridation by May 7. “I’m very, very proud of this state for being the first to ban it, and I hope many more will,” Kennedy said during a press conference with state lawmakers, flanked by Utah legislators.

Meanwhile, Florida is considering a bill to block local governments from fluoridating water after state Surgeon General Dr. Joseph Ladapo advised against it in 2024. Nearly two dozen Florida counties and municipalities have already ceased fluoridation.

Head over to CleanWater.news to read more stories about chemicals in the water supply.

Watch this video discussing how fluoride can cause cancer.

This video is from the Journaltv channel on Brighteon.com.