RFK Jr. Vows to Uncover Reasons Behind 'Autism Epidemic'
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TroibNews 
President Donald Trump has suggested there must be “something artificial” causing the rise in autism during a Cabinet meeting.
US Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has unveiled a significant federal initiative aimed at investigating the factors behind what he describes as the “autism epidemic,” with results anticipated by September 2025.
During a televised Cabinet meeting with President Trump on Thursday, Kennedy, who has faced criticism for promoting vaccine-related conspiracy theories, announced that this new research endeavor would involve “hundreds of scientists from around the world.”
“By September, we will know what has caused the autism epidemic. And we’ll be able to eliminate those exposures,” Kennedy assured attendees, emphasizing the urgency of the initiative in light of a notable rise in childhood autism diagnoses over recent decades, which have surged from “one in 10,000 when I was a kid.”
Kennedy also reiterated: “The autism rate, the most recent numbers we think are about 1 in 31 … up from 1 in 10,000 when I was a kid.” He mentioned the launch of a significant research effort that would engage many scientists.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention currently estimate that 1 in 36 children in the US are diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, a rise often linked to greater awareness and broadened diagnostic criteria.
“That is a horrible statistic, isn’t it? There’s got to be something artificial out there that’s doing this,” Trump remarked to Kennedy.
“If you can come up with that answer – where you stop taking something, you stop eating something, or maybe it’s a shot – but something’s causing it,” Trump added.
The National Institutes of Health already invests over $300 million each year in autism research, primarily targeting genetic factors and prenatal environmental influences. Kennedy did not provide details regarding the extent of the new “massive testing and research effort” or identify what specific exposures might be investigated.
As the founder of the anti-vaccine group Children’s Health Defense, Kennedy has risen to prominence in the US by questioning the safety and effectiveness of childhood vaccinations and promoting the debunked claim that vaccines are linked to autism. He has also criticized the World Health Organization’s responses to Covid-19, including lockdowns and the expedited rollout of experimental vaccines.
Despite his controversial stance, Kennedy denies being anti-vaccine, noting that his own children are vaccinated. During his confirmation hearings, he advocated for more stringent safety testing and thorough studies of vaccines.
After Kennedy endorsed Trump’s campaign last year, the president promised to grant him significant authority over healthcare policy, stating he would allow Kennedy to “go wild.”
Olivia Brown for TROIB News
US Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has unveiled a significant federal initiative aimed at investigating the factors behind what he describes as the “autism epidemic,” with results anticipated by September 2025.
During a televised Cabinet meeting with President Trump on Thursday, Kennedy, who has faced criticism for promoting vaccine-related conspiracy theories, announced that this new research endeavor would involve “hundreds of scientists from around the world.”
“By September, we will know what has caused the autism epidemic. And we’ll be able to eliminate those exposures,” Kennedy assured attendees, emphasizing the urgency of the initiative in light of a notable rise in childhood autism diagnoses over recent decades, which have surged from “one in 10,000 when I was a kid.”
Kennedy also reiterated: “The autism rate, the most recent numbers we think are about 1 in 31 … up from 1 in 10,000 when I was a kid.” He mentioned the launch of a significant research effort that would engage many scientists.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention currently estimate that 1 in 36 children in the US are diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, a rise often linked to greater awareness and broadened diagnostic criteria.
“That is a horrible statistic, isn’t it? There’s got to be something artificial out there that’s doing this,” Trump remarked to Kennedy.
“If you can come up with that answer – where you stop taking something, you stop eating something, or maybe it’s a shot – but something’s causing it,” Trump added.
The National Institutes of Health already invests over $300 million each year in autism research, primarily targeting genetic factors and prenatal environmental influences. Kennedy did not provide details regarding the extent of the new “massive testing and research effort” or identify what specific exposures might be investigated.
As the founder of the anti-vaccine group Children’s Health Defense, Kennedy has risen to prominence in the US by questioning the safety and effectiveness of childhood vaccinations and promoting the debunked claim that vaccines are linked to autism. He has also criticized the World Health Organization’s responses to Covid-19, including lockdowns and the expedited rollout of experimental vaccines.
Despite his controversial stance, Kennedy denies being anti-vaccine, noting that his own children are vaccinated. During his confirmation hearings, he advocated for more stringent safety testing and thorough studies of vaccines.
After Kennedy endorsed Trump’s campaign last year, the president promised to grant him significant authority over healthcare policy, stating he would allow Kennedy to “go wild.”
Olivia Brown for TROIB News
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