Trump administration delays release of new dietary guidelines amid shutdown

Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has blamed poor diet for driving many of the nation’s biggest health challenges. Jonathan Ernst/Reuters/File

The Trump administration is delaying the release of new national dietary guidelines after the government shutdown disrupted efforts to finalize the overhaul by the end of October, officials said.

The US Department of Health and Human Services and US Department of Agriculture are now tentatively targeting December for publishing the highly anticipated nutrition advice, which is expected to make major changes to the government recommendations for a healthy diet.

HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has touted the revamp as an opportunity to transform people’s eating habits and bring federal food policy in line with the c