Kennedy Cdc Autism Rate
Axios2 days
HHS Chief Links Autism Rise to Environmental Toxins
Above: Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. at a press conference in Washington, DC, on April 16, 2025. Image copyright: Alex Wong/Staff/Getty Images News via Getty Images
The Spin
Narrative A
Rising rates of autism in U.S. children reflect a serious public health crisis that demands urgent investigation into potential environmental causes. The sharp increase cannot be explained by diagnostics alone, pointing to likely preventable factors. Identifying triggers such as toxins, pollutants, pharmaceutical exposures—guided by the science wherever the evidence leads—is essential for future prevention and targeted care.
Narrative B
The rise in autism diagnoses reflects improved screening, broader diagnostic criteria, and better access to services, particularly in historically underserved communities. Characterizing autism as an epidemic caused by toxins promotes harmful stigma and ignores extensive research showing conclusively that genetics play a major role in autism development.