Steve Cortes, founder of the League of American Workers, said that his latest documentary underscores the connection between national strength and public health. This announcement was made on X.
“Thrilled to announce my newest documentary,” said Cortes. “THE MISSION: Make America Healthy Again. A strong country means a healthy country. It’s time to win the health crisis battle.”
Recent U.S. initiatives have increasingly emphasized workforce wellness as a key component of economic strength, addressing issues such as mental health, burnout, and productivity. According to the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, the U.S. Surgeon General published a national framework in 2025 outlining “Five Essentials” for workplace mental health. This framework encourages employers to promote autonomy, flexible schedules, and employee voice to enhance workforce engagement. These efforts are part of broader post-pandemic concerns about labor shortages, absenteeism, and the economic impact of untreated mental illness and chronic stress on business performance.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that chronic diseases and mental health conditions account for a significant portion of U.S. health resources: 90 percent of America’s $4.9 trillion in annual healthcare costs are attributed to individuals with these conditions, with approximately 42 percent of adults having two or more chronic health issues. These conditions not only strain the medical system but also affect workforce readiness, productivity, and quality of life.
According to CMS National Health Expenditure reports and the Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. health spending has increased significantly in recent years while productivity gains remain modest, highlighting structural pressures. In 2023, national health expenditures reached $4.9 trillion (about 17.6% of GDP) after growing by 7.5 percent that year; future projections suggest that healthcare’s share of GDP could exceed 20 percent by 2033. Meanwhile, labor productivity in private community hospitals declined by 2 percent in 2022, indicating sectoral challenges even as overall economy-wide productivity gains remain uneven.
Cortes is also the President of the League of American Workers and serves as a senior political advisor to CatholicVote. He previously worked as a senior advisor to President Trump and JD Vance and is known for his commentary on Fox News and CNN. Cortes frequently releases documentaries and columns at cortesinvestigates.com.
