Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. revealed on Wednesday that the Trump administration will soon unveil multiple research initiatives aimed at pinpointing the exact environmental triggers behind the rise in autism cases.
This marks a major step in Kennedy’s broader health reform effort under the banner of Make America Healthy Again. In remarks delivered Tuesday, he addressed troubling data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which shows a sharp increase in autism prevalence — now affecting 1 in every 31 children in the United States. Kennedy described the situation as nothing short of an “epidemic.”
According to data from the CDC: “Results: Among children aged 8 years in 2022, ASD prevalence was 32.2 per 1,000 children (one in 31) across the 16 sites, ranging from 9.7 in Texas (Laredo) to 53.1 in California. The overall observed prevalence estimate was similar to estimates calculated using Bayesian hierarchical and random effects models. ASD was 3.4 times as prevalent among boys (49.2) than girls (14.3). Overall, ASD prevalence was lower among non-Hispanic White (White) children (27.7) than among Asian or Pacific Islander (A/PI) (38.2), American Indian or Alaska Native (AI/AN) (37.5), non-Hispanic Black or African American (Black) (36.6), Hispanic or Latino (Hispanic) (33.0), and multiracial children (31.9). No association was observed between ASD prevalence and neighborhood median household income (MHI) at 11 sites; higher ASD prevalence was associated with lower neighborhood MHI at five sites.”
The trend line has continued to rise steadily over the years, with no indication of slowing down.
Kennedy referenced a state-commissioned investigation by the California legislature in 2009, which tasked the MIND Institute at UC Davis with determining whether the surge in autism cases was real or just a result of better diagnosis. The lead researcher, an expert in neurology and epidemiology, delivered a firm conclusion.
“The epidemic is real,” Kennedy emphasized. He noted that this finding has been reinforced by numerous scientific studies, all of which point to a dramatic increase in cases, not simply improved detection.
Rejecting the argument that the rise in autism is a myth, Kennedy urged the public and policymakers to examine the available evidence. “Instead of listening to this canard of epidemic denial, all you have to do is start reading a little science, because the answer is very clear, and this is catastrophic for our country,” he warned. He then pointed to another projection estimating that by 2035, the annual cost of autism treatment in the U.S. could reach a staggering one trillion dollars.
“This is added to already astronomical healthcare costs. And then there’s an individual injury. These are kids that — this is a preventable disease. We know it’s an environmental exposure. It has to be. Genes do not cause epidemics,” Kennedy said.
“It can provide a vulnerability, but you need an environmental toxin,” he explained, making it clear that identifying that toxin is now a top priority.
Kennedy announced that his department plans to roll out new investigations in the coming weeks. “This has not been done before, and we’re going to do it in a thorough and comprehensive way, and we’re going to get back to …. an answer to the American people, very, very quickly,” he promised.