Secretaries Rollins and Kennedy Visit Virginia Elementary School to Spotlight Child Nutrition Programs
April 7, 2025
As part of the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) agenda, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins and U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. visited Ferdinand T. Day Elementary School in Alexandria, Virginia, to see the impact of child nutrition programs in action.
This visit marked the first MAHA event led jointly by the two Secretaries, showcasing their commitment to improving children’s health through better nutrition. They joined students during snack time, met with dedicated nutrition staff and toured the school’s kitchen and cafeteria to see how programs like the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) and other USDA initiatives are making a difference in real time.
Secretary Rollins emphasized the urgency of their mission:
“Every child that is hungry in America will have good food to feed them. And if they don't, then we will immediately realign to ensure that they do. The other thing I'd like to say is that programs like today, that are so inspiring and watching these incredible kids—a lot of them from food-challenged families—this is what we should be supporting at USDA.”
She also shared how this partnership with Secretary Kennedy presents a rare opportunity to reshape the national approach to nutrition:
“Secretary Kennedy and I have a unique, once-in-a-generation opportunity to better align our vision on nutrition-related programs to ensure we are working together to advance President Trump’s vision to make our kids, our families and our communities healthy again.”
The visit served as a strong signal that USDA and HHS are committed to realigning federal programs to focus more intentionally on healthy eating, reduced dietary disease, and long-term wellness. Through the MAHA Commission led by Secretary Kennedy, both departments are working to identify solutions to diet-related challenges and empower states to innovate.
Ferdinand T. Day Elementary continues to lead by example, prioritizing student wellness, education and access to nutritious meals. The school’s values align closely with the goal to combat hunger and diet-related diseases, and with support from state and federal officials, initiatives like the CACFP are helping to ensure all children have the fuel they need to learn, grow and thrive.
At the National CACFP Association, we are committed to continued collaboration with USDA, and working with HHS, to strengthen child nutrition programs and promote a healthier future for all.
About Secretary Rollins
Brooke Leslie Rollins is from Glen Rose, Texas. Most recently, she served as the Founder, President, and Chief Executive Officer of the America First Policy Institute (AFPI). During President Trump’s first administration, she led the Domestic Policy Council and served as Assistant to the President for Strategic Initiatives, where she helped shape the administration’s domestic policy agenda. Prior to that, she was Governor Rick Perry’s policy director and led the Texas Public Policy Foundation for 15 years.
Rollins graduated with honors from Texas A&M University in agricultural development and was the university’s first female student body president. She earned her Juris Doctor from the University of Texas School of Law and lives in Fort Worth with her husband Mark and their four children.