Trump Backs Review of U.S. Childhood Vaccine Schedule After Hepatitis B Policy Change 
International Stabilization Force for Gaza Nears Deployment as U.S.-Led Planning Advances 
U.S. Intelligence Briefly Curtailed Information Sharing With Israel Amid Gaza War Concerns 
Eli Lilly’s Inluriyo Gains FDA Approval for Advanced Breast Cancer Treatment 
Ireland Limits Planned Trade Ban on Israeli Settlements to Goods Only 
Ukraine, US and Europe Seek Unified Peace Framework With Security Guarantees for Kyiv 
U.S. Lifts Sanctions on Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Amid Shift in Brazil Relations 
Environmental Group Sues to Block Trump Image on U.S. National Park Passes 
Pfizer Sues Novo Nordisk Over Alleged Tactics to Block Obesity Drug Competition 
FDA Adds Fatal Risk Warning to J&J and Legend Biotech’s Carvykti Cancer Therapy 
Thailand Moves Toward Early Elections After Parliament Dissolution 
Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly Lower Prices for Weight-Loss Drugs Amid U.S. Agreement 
Tabletop particle accelerator could transform medicine and materials science 
Obamacare Premiums Set to Double in 2026 as Subsidy Expiration Looms Amid U.S. Shutdown 
Cogent Biosciences Soars 120% on Breakthrough Phase 3 Results for Bezuclastinib in GIST Treatment 
Novo Nordisk Appoints Greg Miley as Global Head of Corporate Affairs Amid U.S. Pricing Pressure 
U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced a bold plan to identify the cause of autism by September 2025. Speaking at a cabinet meeting with President Donald Trump, Kennedy declared a global research initiative involving hundreds of scientists to determine the source of rising autism rates, which reached 1 in 36 children by 2020, according to the CDC.
“We’ll know by September what has caused the autism epidemic and how to eliminate those exposures,” Kennedy said, hinting at environmental and artificial factors. The initiative is part of Trump’s broader “Make America Healthy Again” Commission, which is also reviewing rising childhood conditions like asthma and ADHD.
The autism community, however, responded with skepticism. Kristyn Roth of the Autism Society of America criticized the deadline and the framing of autism as an “epidemic,” warning it promotes fear and stigmatization. Experts caution that increased diagnoses are largely due to expanded diagnostic criteria and awareness, not an unknown epidemic.
Kennedy, known for promoting a disproven link between vaccines and autism, confirmed vaccines will be reviewed, along with potential environmental and lifestyle triggers. Meanwhile, a recent study has strengthened ties between prenatal diabetes and autism risk.
Controversy deepened after reports surfaced of David Geier—previously fined for unlicensed medical practices—being hired to investigate vaccine links. Lawmakers and advocacy groups fear the spread of misinformation under Kennedy’s leadership.
The National Institutes of Health and the CDC, both under Kennedy’s purview, are planning multimillion-dollar research efforts into autism causes, including vaccine-related studies. Critics argue the push may politicize science and mislead the public.
Despite widespread concern, Kennedy remains firm: “There will be no bigger news than finding the cause of autism.” Whether science can meet his deadline remains uncertain.
