In a press conference held on April 16, 2025, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. publicly disputes the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) recent findings on autism prevalence. The CDC reports that 1 in 31 U.S. children are diagnosed with autism by age eight, attributing the rise to improved diagnostics and broader awareness. Contrarily, Kennedy labels autism a “preventable disease” and suggests that environmental toxins, rather than better detection, are responsible for the increase.
Kennedy announces the initiation of a research initiative aimed at identifying environmental factors contributing to autism, with results expected by September. He appoints David Geier, known for promoting the debunked vaccine-autism link, to lead this effort. This move raises concerns among experts, who caution that such a rapid timeline is insufficient for credible scientific research and may reignite vaccine skepticism.
The Secretary’s remarks, including a statement that individuals with autism “will never pay taxes, hold a job, go on a date, or use a toilet unassisted,” draw significant backlash from advocacy groups and public figures. Critics argue that these comments perpetuate harmful stereotypes and overlook the diverse capabilities of those on the autism spectrum.
Kennedy’s stance represents a departure from established scientific consensus, which identifies autism as a complex interplay of genetic and environmental factors, with no credible link to vaccines. His position has previously drawn criticism, including from Nobel laureates who opposed his nomination due to concerns over his views on vaccination.
As the administration proceeds with its proposed studies, the scientific community emphasizes the importance of evidence-based research and cautions against drawing premature conclusions that could misinform public understanding and policy.
Source Links:
https://www.axios.com/2025/04/16/kennedy-cdc-autism-rates
https://people.com/rfk-jr-claims-people-with-autism-will-never-work-find-love-or-pay-taxes-11717083
https://www.npr.org/2025/04/17/nx-s1-5366846/rfk-jr-calls-autism-an-epidemic-and-launches-effort-to-find-environmental-cause
https://abcnews.go.com/Health/rfk-jr-lays-new-studies-autism-shuts-diagnoses/story?id=120882735
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/apr/16/rjk-jr-rise-autism-diagnoses
https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2025/04/15/autism-rfk-jr-trump-cdc
https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/kennedy-move-autism-study-newly-created-administrative-office-2025-04-16
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vaccines_and_autism
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yly3zpXqa2s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=APNSHGbexPI
