Robert F. Kennedy Jr., now head of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, has eliminated a major government division studying environmental links to autism while launching a new research initiative focused on vaccines.
Sharon Lerner reports for ProPublica.
In short:
- Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has shut down more than 50 federally funded autism research projects, including those exploring workplace chemical exposures, while claiming he will uncover autism’s true causes with new studies under his control.
- Researchers fear the $50 million Autism Data Science Initiative may sideline the investigation of environmental factors and manipulate findings to support Kennedy’s long-held but discredited belief linking vaccines to autism.
- Simultaneously, the Trump administration is rolling back pollution regulations and dismantling federal research infrastructure, including agencies tracking chemicals tied to developmental harm.
Key quote:
“We’re talking about probably decades of delays and setbacks.”
— Alycia Halladay, chief science officer at the Autism Science Foundation
Why this matters:
Research shows that both genetic and environmental factors contribute to autism risk, yet study of environmental factors remains underfunded and politically vulnerable. Chemicals like trichloroethylene and methylene chloride — used in dry cleaning, manufacturing, and medical settings — have been linked to autism and other neurodevelopmental disorders in children, particularly when parents are exposed during pregnancy. Workplace solvents, diesel exhaust, certain pesticides, and endocrine disruptors like BPA and PFAS have also raised alarms. With air pollution worsening and regulatory protections weakening, millions may unknowingly face exposures that could affect fetal brain development. Disrupting or defunding long-term studies not only erases years of progress but hinders public health officials' understanding of preventable risks in homes, jobs, and communities.
Related EHN coverage: Opinion: RFK Jr.’s disinformation is a rallying cry for women in STEM
