Government relies on fabricated research to support policies
U.S. Government Report on Child Health Faces Accusations of Fake Citations
WASHINGTON — A recent investigation by the online magazine Notus, part of the Allbritton Journalism Institute, has uncovered fake citations and other errors in the "Make Our Children Healthy Again" (MAHA) report, an official publication on child health issues. The report, authored by the MAHA Commission established during the Trump Administration, has raised concerns about the report's credibility and the validity of its findings.
The MAHA report, released on May 22, 2025, aimed to address the growing issue of childhood chronic diseases in the U.S. by identifying potential drivers such as poor diet, environmental toxins, lack of physical activity, and overmedicalization. However, the report has been criticized for containing fabricated references, which undermines its credibility and the validity of its recommendations.
Three examples of the cited sources in the MAHA report that could not be traced include:
- Epidemiologist Katherine Keyes, who is allegedly the lead author of a study on youth anxiety in the MAHA report, stated to Notus that "the cited study is not a real study in which I or my colleagues were involved." The study does not appear in the table of contents of the mentioned issue of the journal Jama Pediatrics.
- While the Virginia Commonwealth University does employ one of the alleged authors listed, Robert L. Findling, the university told Notus that he had not conducted a study on advertising psychoactive substances to youth, as stated in the MAHA report.
- Another listed lead author of a study on ADHD medications, "Shah, M.B.," does not appear to be a researcher in the field of ADHD.
Margaret Manto, one of the journalists responsible for the investigation, told Spiegel that "out of about 20 other sources, the contents were taken out of context or the results were misrepresented." Other inconsistencies, such as misinterpretations of study results and broken links, were also found in the MAHA report (New York Times).
Confronted with the allegations, the White House dismissed them as "minor citation and formatting errors." The Health and Human Services Department, however, published an updated version of the MAHA report, removing the seven references to non-existent sources. However, Manto told Spiegel that the issues extend beyond formatting errors, stating that "the report would not pass a peer review."
Addressing these issues requires a thorough review of the report's methodology and data to ensure the accuracy and reliability of its findings. Additionally, implementing more rigorous standards for research and citation in government reports can help maintain public trust in these documents.
- The fabricated sources in the MAHA report, such as the alleged study by Katherine Keyes, have raised questions about the report's credibility and the validity of its recommendations in the realm of science and health-and-wellness, including mental health.
- The occurrence of misrepresented study results and broken links in the MAHA report has highlighted the need for rigorous standards for policy-and-legislation documents, particularly when they focus on critical issues like childhood chronic diseases and nutritional policies.
- Politicians and policymakers should take note of the concerns surrounding the MAHA report, as the use of fake citations and misrepresentation of research findings can influence the development and implementation of therapies-and-treatments and general-news policies.
- The update of the MAHA report by the Health and Human Services Department is a step toward improving the report's accuracy, but it also emphasizes the need for mental-health, science, and health-and-wellness policymakers to prioritize transparency and adherence to ethical research practices in order to maintain public trust and produce reliable, actionable, and effective policies.
