U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. purged the Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee (IACC) last week, replacing the entire advisory body with a roster of anti-vaccine activists and proponents of unverified medical interventions. The move effectively sidelines traditional researchers and policy experts in favor of a group that critics argue prioritizes conspiracy theories over established science in federal autism research and service guidance.
A Radical Shift in Federal Autism Oversight
In a formal announcement, Kennedy described the new 21-member panel as “the most qualified experts” with extensive experience in treating and researching autism. However, the complete removal of all previous members has triggered immediate backlash from the scientific community. A review of the appointees reveals a heavy concentration of individuals who have historically claimed a link between vaccines and autism—a connection that has been thoroughly debunked by decades of global medical research.
Appointees Linked to Disproven Treatments
The new lineup includes several figures associated with controversial and potentially hazardous medical practices. Among them is Daniel Rossignol, a physician previously targeted in a fraud lawsuit involving the use of chelation therapy on a seven-year-old child. Federal health authorities, including the National Institutes of Health (NIH), warn that chelation—a process used to remove heavy metals from the body—lacks scientific evidence for treating autism and poses significant physical risks.
Other notable appointments include:
- Tracy Slepcevic: An organizer of the “Autism Health Summit,” an event known for promoting “cures” such as animal stem cell injections for children.
- Toby Rogers: A fellow at the Brownstone Institute who has characterized vaccination as “one of the greatest crimes in human history” and claimed that vaccine manufacturers are “poisoning children.”
- Elizabeth Mumper: A pediatrician and senior fellow at the Independent Medical Alliance (formerly the Front Line Covid-19 Critical Care Alliance) who has authored content for Kennedy’s anti-vaccine organization, Children’s Health Defense (CHD).
While Mumper defended her appointment to WIRED, citing her decades of clinical experience and denying an anti-vaccine stance, the majority of the new committee members declined to comment on their selection or their history of promoting fringe medical theories.
Scientific Backlash and Concerns of “Pseudo-Science”
Public health experts warn that this ideological shift will divert critical federal funding toward “dead-end” research and dangerous experimental treatments. Gavin Yamey, a professor of global health and public policy at Duke University, characterized the appointments as an attempt to “muddy the waters” regarding vaccine safety.
The Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN), a leading rights organization, issued a blistering statement condemning the new committee. The group expressed fear that the IACC will now influence federal policy away from services that actually support autistic individuals, focusing instead on “quack” treatments that threaten the lives of the community.
The Administration’s Defense and Growing Uncertainty
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has dismissed these concerns as “misleading.” Andrew Nixon, HHS communications director, asserted that families deserve “measurable progress” after years of rising autism rates, suggesting the new committee is designed to deliver results rather than just reports.
The selection process itself appears opaque, even to those chosen for leadership roles. Sylvia Fogel, a Boston-based psychiatrist appointed as chair, admitted to The New York Times that she was unsure how she was selected. In a subsequent letter, Fogel defended the panel, arguing that the members possess “extraordinary depth of experience” and that they view autism as a “lived, urgent responsibility” rather than an abstract policy debate.
Broader Implications for Public Health
This overhaul of the IACC follows Kennedy’s recent restructuring of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), which advises the CDC on vaccine usage. Critics, including Kayla Hancock of the advocacy group Protect Our Care, argue that Kennedy is systematically creating an “ideological echo chamber” across federal health agencies.
For activists like Fiona O’Leary, an autistic mother and advocate, the appointments signal a dangerous era of experimentation. O’Leary warns that promoting debunked theories as legitimate science treats the autistic community as “guinea pigs,” potentially rolling back years of progress in safety and civil rights.
