Overview

• HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has pledged to determine the causes of autism and eliminate harmful exposures by September, a timeline experts deem unfeasible.
• Decades of research attribute autism primarily to genetic factors and expanded diagnostic practices, with no evidence linking vaccines to the condition.
• Critics argue Kennedy's initiative perpetuates anti-vaccine misinformation, undermines public health, and stigmatizes autistic individuals.
• The appointment of David Geier, a researcher with a history of flawed studies, has raised concerns about the integrity and credibility of the initiative.
• Advocacy groups warn that the rhetoric surrounding the initiative risks reinforcing harmful stereotypes and eugenic ideologies.