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5mo ago

HHS Secretary Kennedy Faces Backlash Over Autism 'Epidemic' Rhetoric

Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s framing of autism as a preventable environmental epidemic and his controversial comments about those on the spectrum have drawn sharp criticism from advocacy groups and experts.

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., conducts a news conference to discuss the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's latest Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring (ADDM) Network survey, at the Hubert Humphrey Building on Wednesday, April 16, 2025. The survey states there has been a rise in Autism diagnoses in children.
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U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. during a swearing in ceremony of Mehmet Oz as administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services in the Oval Office at the White House on Friday. (Will Oliver/Pool/CNP/ZUMA Press/TNS)
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Overview

  • Kennedy announced a five-month initiative to identify environmental causes of autism, rejecting established evidence linking rising diagnoses to improved screening and genetic factors.
  • His depiction of autism as a preventable epidemic and his remarks about individuals with autism being unable to live independently or contribute to society have sparked widespread criticism.
  • Advocacy organizations and researchers have condemned Kennedy's rhetoric as harmful and misleading, emphasizing the diversity and potential of people on the autism spectrum.
  • The CDC recently reported autism prevalence at 1 in 31 children, attributing the rise to better diagnostic methods, contrary to Kennedy's claims of environmental toxins as the primary cause.
  • Kennedy's suggestion to compensate families of individuals with severe autism has been met with mixed reactions, with some families expressing support and others raising concerns about stigmatization.