Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s False Autism Claims Prompt Widespread Backlash

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has sparked widespread backlash after making false and stigmatizing remarks about autism, including claims that it is a 'preventable disease' and that those with autism cannot live independently or contribute to society. Medical experts and autism advocates, including parents and professionals, have condemned his statements as factually incorrect, dehumanizing, and harmful to ongoing efforts to destigmatize autism. The CDC and researchers maintain that autism's causes are complex and largely genetic, with no scientific basis for Kennedy's assertions about environmental toxins or prevention. Advocates emphasize that many autistic individuals can and do lead fulfilling, independent lives, and that Kennedy's rhetoric perpetuates harmful stereotypes. His history of promoting debunked vaccine-autism links further undermines public trust in health policy. The controversy has raised concerns about the direction of US health policy under his leadership.