The U.S. Health Secretary, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., has announced a massive new effort to find the cause of autism, with results expected by September 2025. The project, involving hundreds of scientists globally, was launched under President Donald Trump’s administration and is already raising serious concerns among doctors, scientists, and autism advocates.
While Kennedy promises answers, experts are warning that the research may be biased, unscientific, and driven by old vaccine conspiracy theories.
What Is the Autism Research Project?
Kennedy says the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) will work with global scientists to find the cause of what he calls the “autism epidemic”. He told President Trump that they will identify the causes by September 2025 and remove harmful “exposures.”
Trump responded, “There’s got to be something artificial out there that’s doing this.”
What Is the Controversy?
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has a long history of linking vaccines to autism — a theory that has been disproved many times by scientific studies.
Although Kennedy recently said, “We encourage people to get the measles vaccine,” he also downplayed recent measles deaths in Texas, suggesting that treatments like budesonide (a steroid) and clarithromycin (an antibiotic) might be better than vaccines. Doctors strongly disagreed, stating that vaccines are the only proven way to prevent measles.
Kennedy has also pushed the CDC to re-investigate the link between vaccines and autism, even though research has clearly shown no connection.
Experts Say the Research Won’t Be Fair
Doctors and scientists are questioning:
- Why Kennedy set such a short deadline (only five months)
- How the government will fund such a study, especially after HHS cut 25% of its staff
- Why known anti-vaccine figures like David Geier (whose medical license was revoked) are being hired
Dr. Lisa Settles, an autism expert at Tulane University, said:
“Even creating a proper research plan takes more than five months. This project doesn’t seem serious.”
Dr. Peter Hotez, a vaccine researcher and author, said:
“He already has his own theory, which is wrong. Autism starts in the womb, before vaccines are ever given.”
What Do Autism Experts and Advocates Think?
The Autism Society of America said Kennedy’s promise was “unrealistic and misleading.” They asked for more transparent, science-based research.
The Autistic Self Advocacy Network said the research seems biased from the start.
Their director, Zoe Gross, said:
“They’re not asking ‘What causes autism?’ — they’ve already decided what they want the answer to be.”
Measles Outbreaks and Vaccine Doubts
While Kennedy claims that measles cases have “plateaued,” data shows rising cases in Texas, Indiana, and Ohio. Two unvaccinated children have died, but Kennedy suggested they had other health issues, despite no such reports from health officials.
Dr. Adam Ratner, a specialist in infectious diseases, responded:
“Steroids and antibiotics don’t treat measles. Vaccination is the only way to prevent it.”
Government Actions and Staff Cuts
Under Kennedy, HHS has:
- Removed the FDA’s top vaccine regulator
- Hired David Geier, who was banned from practicing medicine
- Directed the CDC to restart studies on vaccines and autism
- Launched the autism study with a five-month deadline
Public health experts are concerned about staff cuts and budget reductions, especially since the U.S. has also cut ties with the World Health Organization (WHO).
Dr. Georges Benjamin, head of the American Public Health Association, said:
“You can’t lead a global study if you’re firing staff and breaking ties with the world’s top health groups.”