Robert F. Kennedy Jr., despite lacking medical qualifications, sparked controversy with recent statements about autism. In an interview, the US Health and Human Services Secretary described autism as a major crisis, potentially surpassing the COVID-19 pandemic in impact. He emphasized that while COVID-19 primarily affected older individuals, autism impacts children early in their development, posing significant challenges for families and communities.

Kennedy's remarks, including a prior statement that "autism destroys families," drew immediate criticism. He has a history of promoting the debunked claim that vaccines cause autism, contradicting scientific consensus. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) identifies family history, birth complications, and genetic factors as potential risk factors for autism.

During the radio interview, Kennedy raised concerns about rising autism rates and the associated healthcare costs, projecting a potential annual cost of $1 trillion by 2035. While the United States ranks ninth globally in autism prevalence, Kennedy focused on "profound autism," affecting approximately 26% of diagnosed individuals, characterized by severe symptoms requiring lifelong care. CDC experts attribute the increase in diagnoses to improved screening and broadened diagnostic criteria, rather than a genuine surge in cases. There is also data to suggest that increased autism diagnosis is correlated with a decrease in diagnosis of intellectual disability or brain damage.

Minnesota’s first lady, Gwen Walz, condemned Kennedy’s comments as offensive and dismissive of the value autistic individuals bring to society. Lawmakers and autism advocacy groups echoed this sentiment, criticizing Kennedy’s language and his plan for a large-scale autism research project. Concerns were raised that labeling autism as a "chronic disease" and an "epidemic" perpetuates negative stereotypes and hinders acceptance.

Kristyn Roth of the Autism Society of America cautioned against Kennedy's promises of a rapid autism cause discovery, emphasizing that credible scientific research requires time and diligence. Kennedy criticized the NIH and CDC for allegedly underinvesting in research on environmental factors, such as mold, pesticides, food additives, vaccines and ultrasounds, suggesting an over-emphasis on genetic causes. He stated his team intends to study these factors utilizing artificial intelligence and modern science.

Kennedy was interviewed on WABC 770 AM during the show “The Cats Roundtable” hosted by John Catsimatidis.