Posted on Tuesday, September 23, 2025
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by Alan Jamison
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1 Comments
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The Trump administration is taking new action to address the growing number of children in the United States who are diagnosed with autism, including recommending pregnant women avoid taking Tylenol and similar medications. President Donald Trump and Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., addressed the nation on Monday to explain the administration’s findings this year.
Research into the causes of autism has been a priority for Kennedy even before becoming the head of HHS. Under his leadership, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is now responding “to prior clinical and laboratory studies that suggest a potential association between acetaminophen use during pregnancy and adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes.” Acetaminophen is the active ingredient in Tylenol.
The FDA will now “issue a physician notice and begin the process to initiate a safety label change for acetaminophen,” going forward. HHS will also be launching a “nationwide public service campaign” to inform families about the potential risks of the product for pregnant women.
Kennedy explained that HHS will continue to follow the science in battling this issue.
“For too long, families have been left without answers or options as autism rates have soared,” he said. “Today, we are taking bold action—opening the door to the first FDA-recognized treatment pathway, informing doctors and families about potential risks, and investing in groundbreaking research. We will follow the science, restore trust, and deliver hope to millions of American families.”
HHS explained in a statement that there are conflicting reports on the links between acetaminophen use during pregnancy and autism, but advises clinicians to “exercise their best judgment” in determining if acetaminophen is necessary.
FDA Commissioner Marty Makary also shared that there is a treatment that could prevent autism in some children.
“A growing body of evidence suggests that some children suffering from autism are folate-deficient within the brain—a problem that can be treated with leucovorin,” Makary said. “Given the extent of the current autism epidemic, physicians should immediately have this treatment option available for candidate children.”
Leucovorin is a special type of vitamin that protects healthy cells from some of the harsh side effects of chemotherapy. Doctors also use it to make certain cancer medicines work better.
The White House also reported on Monday that the rate of autism among children has increased by 400 percent from 2000 to 2022, revealing how rapidly the epidemic is growing. The rise in autism diagnoses has also coincided with a rise in diagnosed cases of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) among children. The White House further explained that acetaminophen may also play a role in children being diagnosed with ADHD.
In the press conference, Trump further advised parents not to give babies vaccines all at once. He recommended that babies be given their vaccines over a period of four or five appointments.
“On the vaccines, it would be good instead of one visit where they pump the baby, load it up with stuff, you’ll do it over a period of four times or five times,” the President said. “I’ve been so into this issue for so many years just because I couldn’t understand how a thing like this could happen.”
Kennedy explained that HHS will continue to investigate the causes of autism. He said that 40 percent to 70 percent of mothers who have children with autism believe that vaccines led to their children’s diagnosis.
“President Trump believes that we should be listening to these mothers instead of gaslighting and marginalizing them like prior administrations,” Kennedy said. “Some of our friends like to say that we should believe all women. Some of these same people have been silencing and demonizing these mothers for three decades. Because searching for a potential link between autism and vaccines has been actively suppressed in the past, it will take time for an honest look at this topic by scientists.”
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt explained in a statement that Trump promised to combat the growing autism crisis in America and that “his team is deploying Gold Standard Science to deliver on this pledge.” She added that the administration “will not be deterred in these efforts as we know millions across America are grateful.”
Alan Jamison is the pen name of a political writer with extensive experience writing for several notable politicians and news outlets.
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