The Health Secretary's Latest Power Play: Stacking Autism Panel with Vaccine Skeptics
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the Health Secretary, has once again demonstrated his willingness to prioritize his personal agenda over scientific expertise and the well-being of Americans. In a move that has left many in the autism community outraged, Kennedy has restacked the Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee (IACC), a government advisory panel responsible for guiding federal policy on autism research.
The new iteration of the IACC includes several members who have expressed anti-vaccination views in the past, including John Gilmore, executive director of the Autism Action Network, and Toby Rogers, a fellow at the Texas-based Brownstone Institute. Both individuals have been vocal about their opposition to vaccine mandates and have promoted debunked theories that vaccines cause autism.
This move has sparked widespread concern among experts and advocacy groups, who point out that the IACC's new members lack scientific expertise and are more interested in advancing RFK Jr.'s anti-vaccination agenda than providing objective guidance on autism research. "Consistent with other federal advisory committees under Secretary Kennedy's leadership, committee members have been cherry-picked to reach a predetermined conclusion, not to seek broad, good-faith input from qualified experts and stakeholders," said Alison Singer, president of the Autism Science Foundation.
The IACC is responsible for providing non-binding recommendations on how the government should allocate resources toward autism research and other related priorities. The panel's new composition raises serious questions about its ability to provide credible guidance on these issues.
This move is just the latest example of RFK Jr.'s efforts to shape federal policy in line with his personal views, rather than following evidence-based recommendations from scientific experts. His previous actions, such as directing the CDC to deceptively edit its webpages on vaccination and cutting down the recommended childhood vaccine schedule, have already been widely criticized by public health officials.
With the IACC now stacked with anti-vaccination advocates, it is likely that RFK Jr. will continue to push for policies that boost debunked theories about vaccines causing autism. This is a troubling development for Americans who rely on credible scientific guidance to inform their decisions about vaccine safety and efficacy.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the Health Secretary, has once again demonstrated his willingness to prioritize his personal agenda over scientific expertise and the well-being of Americans. In a move that has left many in the autism community outraged, Kennedy has restacked the Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee (IACC), a government advisory panel responsible for guiding federal policy on autism research.
The new iteration of the IACC includes several members who have expressed anti-vaccination views in the past, including John Gilmore, executive director of the Autism Action Network, and Toby Rogers, a fellow at the Texas-based Brownstone Institute. Both individuals have been vocal about their opposition to vaccine mandates and have promoted debunked theories that vaccines cause autism.
This move has sparked widespread concern among experts and advocacy groups, who point out that the IACC's new members lack scientific expertise and are more interested in advancing RFK Jr.'s anti-vaccination agenda than providing objective guidance on autism research. "Consistent with other federal advisory committees under Secretary Kennedy's leadership, committee members have been cherry-picked to reach a predetermined conclusion, not to seek broad, good-faith input from qualified experts and stakeholders," said Alison Singer, president of the Autism Science Foundation.
The IACC is responsible for providing non-binding recommendations on how the government should allocate resources toward autism research and other related priorities. The panel's new composition raises serious questions about its ability to provide credible guidance on these issues.
This move is just the latest example of RFK Jr.'s efforts to shape federal policy in line with his personal views, rather than following evidence-based recommendations from scientific experts. His previous actions, such as directing the CDC to deceptively edit its webpages on vaccination and cutting down the recommended childhood vaccine schedule, have already been widely criticized by public health officials.
With the IACC now stacked with anti-vaccination advocates, it is likely that RFK Jr. will continue to push for policies that boost debunked theories about vaccines causing autism. This is a troubling development for Americans who rely on credible scientific guidance to inform their decisions about vaccine safety and efficacy.
The fact that the Health Secretary's latest move is just another example of him prioritizing his personal views over science and expertise is really concerning 
. It's like, I get it, we want to have open discussions and debates, but not at the expense of making decisions based on actual facts 
. And what's even more alarming is that this move is just going to fuel more misinformation and confusion about vaccines and autism 
. We need people in these advisory committees who actually know their stuff and can provide guidance that's grounded in science, not personal agendas 
.
I think this is a perfect example of how politics can get in the way of progress... like, what's the point of even having experts if you're just gonna stick with people who agree with you? 
Newsflash: vaccines aren't the problem, autism is! 
But seriously, it's crazy that someone as influential as RFK Jr. would prioritize his personal views over actual science... like, what about all those kids who rely on vaccines to stay healthy? 
It's a shame when politics gets in the way of doing what's best for people's health... 
. It's like Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is trying to push his own agenda without listening to actual science 
. The fact that they're including people who've expressed anti-vaccination views in the past makes me think this is all just a big power play 
The whole thing feels like a huge step back for autism research and public health. I just hope the CDC and other reputable orgs aren't gonna have to pick up the slack on this one 
... I mean, can't he just focus on finding real solutions instead of promoting debunked theories? And what's next? A panel to deny climate change too? 
The thought alone gives me the chills 
... we need experts in their field making decisions, not someone with a personal agenda