Overview

• At a Texas Capitol event where Gov. Greg Abbott signed Make America Healthy Again measures, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said he can tell children are “overburdened with mitochondrial challenges” by observing their faces, movements, and social connection.
• Ashish Jha and other clinicians condemned the statement as unscientific, with critics noting Kennedy has no medical degree.
• Kennedy also cited incorrect figures, claiming 38% of teens are diabetic or prediabetic and autism is 1 in 25, while CDC and diabetes data put youth diabetes near 0.35% and childhood autism around 1 in 31.
• The comments followed months of disputed HHS moves, including deauthorizing some COVID-19 vaccination schedules and cutting or redirecting mRNA research funding.
• The controversy landed as CDC leadership churned, with reports that Director Susan Monarez was pushed out and several senior officials resigned this week.