HHS Secretary’s Pledge to Pinpoint Environmental Triggers Faces Criticism from Scientists and Advocates

August 29, 2025

Washington, D.C. - U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. reiterated his commitment to identifying the causes of autism by September 2025 during a cabinet meeting with President Donald Trump on Tuesday, August 26, 2025. Kennedy, a long-time vaccine skeptic, announced that his agency is on track to uncover “interventions” that are “almost certainly causing autism,” promising actionable solutions by the fall. The pledge builds on his April 2025 announcement of a $50 million initiative to investigate environmental factors behind rising autism rates, which he has repeatedly called an “epidemic.”

Speaking at the White House, Kennedy responded to Trump’s request for a progress update, stating, “We are doing very well. We will have announcements as promised in September, finding interventions, certain interventions, now that are clearly almost certainly causing autism.” Trump, who described autism as a “tremendous horror show,” suggested that “something artificial” like a “shot” might be responsible, echoing Kennedy’s past claims linking vaccines to autism, despite decades of research debunking such connections.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported in April 2025 that autism prevalence among 8-year-olds in the U.S. has risen to 1 in 31, up from 1 in 36 in 2020 and 1 in 150 in 2000. Kennedy attributes this increase to environmental toxins, dismissing explanations from experts that point to improved screening, broader diagnostic criteria, and greater awareness. “This epidemic denial has become a feature in the mainstream media, and it’s based on an industry canard,” Kennedy said in April, rejecting the idea that better diagnoses account for the rise.

The announcement has drawn sharp criticism from autism researchers and advocates. The Autism Society of America called Kennedy’s claims “harmful, misleading, and unrealistic,” arguing that labeling autism as a “preventable disease” or “epidemic” stigmatizes the community and ignores its complexity as a lifelong developmental condition influenced by genetics and other factors. Christopher Banks, the society’s president, stated, “These misleading theories perpetuate harmful stigma, jeopardize public health, and distract from the critical needs of the autism community.”

Scientists have expressed concern over Kennedy’s approach, particularly his dismissal of genetic research, which suggests about 80% of autism’s likelihood is tied to heritability. Helen Tager-Flusberg, a Boston University professor and founder of the Coalition of Autism Scientists, criticized Kennedy for ignoring decades of research, saying, “Instead of focusing on questions that have been asked and answered, limited and valuable research dollars must focus on what we don’t yet know about autism.” Eric Fombonne, a professor emeritus at Oregon Health & Science University, noted that studying environmental toxins requires evidence of case clustering, which is absent in autism data.

Further controversy stems from Kennedy’s leadership decisions. He has appointed David Geier, a discredited vaccine skeptic fined for practicing medicine without a license, to study vaccines and autism, raising alarms among experts. Additionally, ProPublica reported that Kennedy eliminated the division of epidemiologist Erin McCanlies, who studied links between parental chemical exposure and autism, and canceled over $40 million in autism-related research grants. These moves have led critics to question the transparency and scientific rigor of Kennedy’s initiative.

Kennedy’s supporters, including some parents of autistic children, praise his focus on autism, citing the lack of a strong social safety net for families. However, advocates like Colin Killick of the Autism Self Advocacy Network argue that Kennedy’s language, such as claiming autism “destroys families,” promotes harmful stereotypes. “None of us have been ‘destroyed,’” Killick told ABC News.

As September approaches, Kennedy’s promise to deliver answers faces skepticism from the scientific community, which insists that autism’s causes—likely a mix of genetic and environmental factors—are too complex for a quick resolution. The debate underscores ongoing tensions between Kennedy’s agenda and established research, with implications for public health policy and the autism community.

The Department of Health and Human Services did not respond to requests for comment on the specifics of the upcoming announcement or the scientists involved. Meanwhile, advocates continue to call for evidence-based research and increased support for autistic individuals and their families.