NFEC Warns: Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) Movement Will Fail Unless It Addresses Financial Instability
WASHINGTON, July 24, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The National Financial Educators Council (NFEC) announced a nationwide initiative to declare financial instability a Public Health Emergency (PHE), warning that the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) movement is incomplete—and ultimately destined to fail—if it ignores the financial crisis driving poor health outcomes across the country.
"While the MAHA movement has achieved notable successes—such as banning harmful food dyes, restricting junk food purchases in SNAP programs, and expanding preventive care initiatives—it will ultimately fall short unless it addresses the root issue of financial instability," said Vince Shorb, CEO of the National Financial Educators Council.
Download Financial Public Health Emergency Whitepaper
Financial Instability: America's Overlooked Health Crisis
The NFEC's push aligns with the CDC's Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) framework, which shows the undeniable link between financial instability and negative health outcomes. Poverty, low employment, housing insecurity, and limited education access contribute directly to higher rates of chronic illness, reduced life expectancy, and mental health struggles.
According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the CDC's Healthy People 2030 initiative, all five Social Determinants of Health are tied to financial conditions:
- Economic Stability: Poverty, unemployment, and unstable housing are major contributors to poor health outcomes.
- Education Access & Quality: Low-income students face lower graduation rates and increased health risks.
- Healthcare Access & Quality: Financial barriers prevent timely access to care, worsening preventable diseases.
- Neighborhood & Built Environment: Low-income communities face greater exposure to pollution, unsafe housing, and violence.
- Social & Community Context: Financial stress erodes mental health, deepens inequality, and worsens community safety.
"Poverty and financial insecurity are not side issues—they are direct threats to public health," added Shorb. "If MAHA doesn't tackle these root causes, it will fail in its mission to strengthen Americans' health."
A Public Health Emergency Declaration: Why It Matters
The NFEC's proposed declaration would:
- Accelerate Prevention: Embed life skills and personal finance education in schools as a primary prevention strategy.
- Scale Support Services: Expand access to financial coaching, counseling, and career readiness programs.
- Enable Rapid Response: Mobilize funding, partnerships, and community-based initiatives with the same urgency as other public health emergencies.
"We've seen the power of rapid public health responses during the COVID pandemic," said Shorb. "Financial instability deserves the same level of coordinated action."
View presentation on the NFEC's YouTube Channel
United for Action Week: September Mobilization
To advance this effort, the NFEC will launch United for Action Week in September—a nationwide campaign featuring stakeholder outreach, legislative engagement, letter-writing initiatives, and public awareness events aimed at securing policy recognition of financial instability as a Public Health Emergency.
Join the Movement
The NFEC is calling on public health leaders, clinicians, educators, policymakers, corporate social responsibility teams, and nonprofit organizations to unite in support of this declaration. The NFEC invites collaboration on advocacy, policy development, funding strategies, and program implementation that position financial wellness as a public health priority.
"We know what works. We have proven models," said Shorb. "What we need now is collective urgency. Together, we can build healthier, more financially resilient communities—and finally move America toward real, lasting health."
The National Financial Educators Council is an IACET Accredited Provider and Certified B Corporation™ dedicated to equipping a global network of financial wellness advocates with the tools, training, and resources necessary to drive sustainable, community-level impact.
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SOURCE National Financial Educators Council