“RFK Jr. Says US Will Know Cause of Autism ‘Epidemic’ by September”
During a Cabinet meeting on Thursday, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. stated that the U.S. government expects to identify the cause of what he referred to as an “autism epidemic” by September. Kennedy announced that a large-scale research initiative is underway, involving scientists from around the world.
“At your direction, we are going to know by September,” Kennedy told President Donald Trump. “We’ve launched a massive testing and research effort… By September, we will know what has caused the autism epidemic and we will be able to eliminate those exposures.”
President Trump responded, calling the reported autism rate “a horrible statistic” and speculated that an external factor may be contributing to the trend. “There’s got to be something artificial out there that’s doing this,” Trump said. “You stop taking something, you stop eating something, or maybe it’s a shot. Something’s causing it.”
Context and Scientific Response
Kennedy cited increasing rates of autism diagnosis, claiming a rise from 1 in 10,000 during his childhood to an estimated 1 in 31 today. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), however, reports the current prevalence as 1 in 36 based on its most recent data. In 2000, the CDC reported a rate of 1 in 150.
Public Reaction
Reactions to Kennedy’s remarks were mixed. Some praised the administration’s commitment to investigating the issue, while others criticized the rhetoric as misleading and potentially harmful.
Supporters of Kennedy’s approach argue that the explosion in neurodevelopmental disorders demands a hard look at environmental, dietary, and pharmaceutical factors. For too long, skeptics say, potential causes have been shielded from scrutiny by institutional inertia and financial interests.
If Kennedy’s effort leads to clearer answers and even partial solutions, it could spark a seismic shift in how the country confronts the growing autism crisis—one rooted in transparency, accountability, and scientific rigor.
Source article originally posted here: https://www.newsweek.com/rfk-jr-says-us-will-know-cause-autism-epidemic-september-2058191