In a potential clash between public health initiatives and industry influence, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has launched a study on the health impacts of electromagnetic radiation from modern cell phones, as part of President Trump’s Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) agenda. However, critics warn that Big Wireless corporations and regulators like Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr could derail efforts to reassess the science on mobile device safety.
On January 15, 2026, HHS spokesman Andrew Nixon confirmed to The Wall Street Journal that the agency was initiating the study on cellphone radiation. This announcement came amid broader scrutiny of wireless technology's effects, highlighting tensions within federal health agencies.
Nixon also revealed that several webpages previously stating that cell phone radiation did not cause harm had been removed, including one from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). “The FDA removed webpages with old conclusions about cell phone radiation while HHS undertakes a study on electromagnetic radiation and health research to identify gaps in knowledge, including on new technologies, to ensure safety and efficacy,” Nixon stated.
The spokesman further noted that the study was directed by President Trump’s MAHA Commission in its strategy report. This move signals a push within the Trump administration to prioritize health research gaps related to emerging technologies like modern cell phones.
Despite the removals, other pages on the FDA and U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) websites continue to assert that there is no credible evidence linking cellphone radiation to cancer in humans. This discrepancy underscores ongoing debates and potential resistance to revising long-held positions on radiation safety.
The initiative faces significant hurdles from the telecommunications industry, known as Big Wireless, and aligned regulators. FCC Chairman Brendan Carr, seen as industry-friendly, is among those whose influence could undermine the MAHA-driven review, raising questions about whether the movement can prevail against entrenched corporate interests.
As HHS proceeds with the study last month confirmed under the MAHA banner, the outcome remains uncertain. Advocates hope it will address knowledge gaps on electromagnetic radiation, but the persistence of industry sway suggests a uphill battle for meaningful health protections.
