By SENIOR CONTRIBUTOR 
The Trump Administration has dropped a political and medical bombshell: a sweeping new push to tackle the autism crisis. For the first time, the National Institutes of Health, the Food and Drug Administration, and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services will jointly focus their resources on uncovering the causes and testing treatments for autism — an unprecedented show of cooperation among federal health agencies.
At a White House news conference, President Donald Trump and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. unveiled three major initiatives aimed at providing answers for parents and hope for millions living on the autism spectrum. Backed by millions in new funding, the plan takes on controversial questions about the role of common drugs in pregnancy, explores promising therapies already in limited use, and launches a cutting-edge data initiative to accelerate research.
This renewed urgency comes as autism diagnoses have surged by 175% in just two decades, forcing policymakers to grapple with what many are calling a national health emergency.
Granted, the definition of autism was expanded in 2013 that brought more individuals under the autism umbrella. That, coupled with more awareness, has brought the autism crisis to the forefront.  Here is a chart that demonstrates the massive increase in autism:Â
The three initiatives outlined by President Trump and Secretary Kennedy include:
- Linkage between Acetaminophen (Tylenol) use in pregnancy and autism.
- Use of Leucovorin (Folinic Acid) as a treatment for autism
- The NIH’s Autism Data Science Initiative to accelerate autism research,
Linkage between Tylenol and Autism
There are several studies that state there is no connection between Tylenol in pregnancy and autism.  Many of these studies were initiated by Big Pharma. Probably the most comprehensive study was completed by researchers at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. Dr. Andrea Baccarelli, the dean of faculty, stated a rigorous review was done through a grant from NIH.  The authors’ review included 46 worldwide studies. Â
Dr. Baccarelli stated correlations were found between Tylenol use in pregnancy and increased neurodevelopment disorders. The association between the two was greatest when Tylenol was taken for four weeks or more. Baccarelli warned there is a possible causal relationship between the two and more research is needed.
This announcement led to a meltdown by mainstream media and Big Pharma. It’s no surprise that the manufacturer of Tylenol came out with a statement saying that the drug was safe for use during pregnancy despite the information given at the press conference. Â
Trump acknowledged that Tylenol is the safer than other drugs to use during pregnancy; he asked that pregnant women avoid it or use it judiciously and that use of the drug should be with medical supervision to balance risks and benefits. Â
The FDA is updating the label warnings on Tylenol for use during pregnancy and is also expanding its warning to not use in infants and toddlers.
Use of Leucovorin (Folinic Acid) as a treatment for autism
Leucovorin is currently being used to decrease the toxic effects of some chemotherapy drugs and to treat conditions such as folate deficiency and anemia. It is a type of folate.
Folate is important to prevent neural tube defects, serious birth defects to the brain and spine. That is why the CDC already recommends that pregnant women take folic acid.
The good news is Leucovorin crosses the blood brain barrier to get into the brain where it may do some good. There were some small studies worldwide that demonstrated some success. If I were a mother of an autistic kid, I sure would be looking into it.
Some medical groups immediately released statements concerning this announcement. The Autism Science Foundation stated “much higher standard of science would be needed to determine if leucovorin is an effective and safe treatment for autism. This science is still in very early stages, and more studies are necessary before a definitive conclusion can be reached.” Â
The American Psychiatric Association stated “Leucovorin has not been a recommended therapy for autism and it will require many more years of research before we know if leucovorin is an appropriate treatment for individuals with autism. “
The FDA asked leucovorin drugmaker GSK to submit a label update and GSK agreed.
The NIH’s Autism Data Science Initiative to accelerate autism researchÂ
Secretary Kennedy stated most studies done on causes of autism over the last 20 years have only been focused on genetics.  He stated there are other factors to consider such as toxins in the environment or use of vaccines. The NIH initiative is devoting an additional $50 million for research into the cause of autism.  Of the almost 250 research organizations that applied, 13 will be chosen.  The focus is on root causes and therapies.  The studies are categorized in a new research science group called exosomes.   This is where environmental and medical factors, nutrition and events during pregnancy along with biology and genetics will give us a fuller picture of the causes of autism. These studies are done in partnership with families and physicians.
Additional areas were discussed at the press conference to include the use of mercury and aluminum in vaccines. Trump also discussed his concern over how many shots a baby gets at one time which could affect the baby’s immunity system.
It’s clear there is more to follow. This was just the promised September update.
While not specifically discussing autism causes, the CEO of Children’s Health Defense (CHD) Mary Holland, JD will be addressing the legal successes the organization has had on vaccines, toxic exposures, and how you can help.
Join us on Oct. 11, 2025, for the Alaskans 4 Personal Freedom annual conference. It is an all-day event at the UAA Wendy Williamson Auditorium.  ou need to sign up before Oct. 5 to get a lunch.  The cost is a mere $55.  Students with ID get in free.  We will have many books authored by our speakers as door prizes.  We will also have a split-the-pot with half of the proceeds going to the Hope Center in Anchorage. Â
To register, go here:Â https://ak4pf.org/2025-conference/
Suzanne Downing
OK people. Are we going to make this another Ivermectin, another mRNA vaccine, another drug debate where we both take sides based on political orientation, while at the same time knowing really very little about the subject? After all, I doubt that few of us here are epidemiologists, medical scientists, doctors, or medical researchers.
Maybe there is something to RFK’s assertions. Maybe there isn’t.
So how about a call to reason? Let’s review together, and in detail, the research that has been done on the subject, identify any research gaps that exist and close them, and then jointly draw our conclusions.
I for one find RFK less than convincing on this issue – he is, after all, a lawyer, just as I understand that drug companies are capable of being less than honest in the pursuit of profit.
Let’s not make this another pi**ing contest. There is a lot at stake, and maybe just once we can together reach a rational, science-based conclusion on the matter.
For once, Hans, I agree with you completely.
I will, however, point out that it has been consistently the leftists who shriek and tear out their hair at ANY questioning of establishment narratives, such as that ivermectin may have been helpful in cases of the Wuhan Virus, or that an exponentially rising number of childhood vaccinations may, just possibly, have cumulative negative health consequences. Most moderates, conservatives and libertarians are open to discussing these topics, but the leftists are adamantly not open to them, dismissing every challenge to, and every questioning of, the establishment narrative as merely “conspiracy theory”.
When was the last time we saw a Democrat president appoint an ardent, lifelong, Republican as cabinet member? We must admit Trump is a uniquely positive president. Whereas, Obama appointed unqualified Buttigieg as Transportation Secretary because he was homosexual, Trump appointed fully qualified Bessent as Treasury Secretary regardless of his homosexuality. No DEI nonsense with Trump.