RFK Jr. vows to expose reason of ‘autism epidemic’
(MENAFN)
U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has unveiled a major federal initiative aimed at investigating the root causes behind what he calls the "autism epidemic," with results expected by September 2025.
U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has unveiled a major federal initiative aimed at investigating the root causes behind what he calls the "autism epidemic," with results expected by September 2025.
During a televised Cabinet meeting with President Donald Trump on Thursday, Kennedy announced that the project will involve hundreds of scientists from around the world. He pledged that by the end of the study, officials would identify the key contributors to the rise in autism and be able to eliminate harmful exposures.
“When I was a kid, autism affected one in 10,000 children. Now it's one in 36,” Kennedy said, referencing a dramatic rise in diagnoses over the decades. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) attributes much of this increase to expanded diagnostic criteria and greater awareness.
President Trump supported Kennedy's remarks, stating: “There has to be something artificial causing this,” and speculated that a food, medication, or vaccine could be the culprit. “If you can figure it out, that would be incredible,” he told Kennedy.
While the National Institutes of Health (NIH) currently spends over $300 million annually on autism research—mainly targeting genetic and prenatal environmental factors—Kennedy offered little detail on how the new research will differ or what potential causes are being prioritized.
Kennedy, who founded the controversial group Children’s Health Defense, has long questioned the safety of vaccines and their possible link to autism, a theory that has been widely discredited by the scientific community. Nonetheless, he insists he is not anti-vaccine, noting that his own children have received standard immunizations. He has instead called for stricter safety regulations and more comprehensive research.
Kennedy rose to further prominence during the Covid-19 pandemic for his criticism of the World Health Organization, lockdowns, and the rapid rollout of vaccines. After endorsing Trump’s reelection bid last year, the president promised Kennedy broad oversight of U.S. health policy, saying he would let him “go wild.”
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