RFK Jr.'s Controversial Health Agenda: Autism, Vaccines, and CDC Upheaval

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. BioSnap a weekly updated Biography.

In an extraordinary week of news, both controversy and spotlight have followed Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as he continues to upend America’s public health landscape as Secretary of Health and Human Services. The week began with sharp headlines after Kennedy’s handpicked vaccine panel—the new Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices—concluded an unusually contentious meeting. According to Nature and STAT, the Kennedy-appointed ACIP, which includes several well-known vaccine skeptics, muddied the waters on public vaccine schedules, delaying decisions for hepatitis B shots for newborns and reversing itself on recommendations for crucial childhood vaccines like MMRV. This chaos and indecision have baffled outside experts, caused media uproar, and fueled accusations that Kennedy is moving the nation away from science-based public health policy, stoking frustration across pediatric and infectious disease communities.

No sooner did the dust settle from the ACIP drama than Kennedy made major headlines with President Trump, appearing together at a White House event billed as a historic new direction on autism policy, closely watched by NBC 10, KPNX, and others. Kennedy, long a lightning rod for his beliefs around environmental triggers and pharmaceutical accountability, stood beside the president to announce aggressive interagency action that includes FDA approval of prescription lucorin for children with autism, immediate Medicaid coverage, and new real-world data collection initiatives. While the administration pitched this as a watershed moment for millions of families, many health experts and media outlets were quick to note the unproven claims, including Trump’s public suggestion about Tylenol use during pregnancy, which mainstream researchers continue to dispute for lack of evidence.

Kennedy’s public itinerary brought further attention when he delivered a eulogy at the Charlie Kirk memorial service at Arizona’s State Farm Stadium, a highly televised event with thousands in attendance and a roster of top conservative figures, including President Trump, J.D. Vance, and Tucker Carlson. Kennedy’s remarks, broadcast by 12 News, elevated his national profile as he shared the stage with the Republican elite, highlighting his continued political relevance even beyond his new cabinet role.

Meanwhile, Kennedy’s planned visit to Martha’s Vineyard for a tribal health advisory meeting, as reported by The MV Times, sparked anticipatory protest movements. Activist groups are mobilizing at the airport and meeting venues, denouncing Kennedy’s anti-vaccine stances and departmental shakeups, which have included widespread changes at the CDC. These upcoming visits underscore how deeply Kennedy’s leadership polarizes opinion—from praise for purging ultra-processed foods from school meals, to withering criticism over “anti-science” policies and ongoing vaccine debates.

Finally, on the legislative front, Senate Health Chair Bill Cassidy has publicly invited Kennedy to testify in what promises to be a headline-grabbing hearing on CDC upheaval and the department’s new course. The invitation reflects just how high the political and scientific stakes now are, as Kennedy’s decisions ripple through policy, public opinion, and partisan showdowns. On social media, Kennedy’s name has trended amid viral debates, public protests, and mounting coverage from ABC and other major news platforms, signaling another consequential chapter in a career that thrives on controversy and change.

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