The Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee, which has advised U.S. health secretaries on autism policy for 25 years, completed a 336-page strategic plan that has drawn substantial criticism from the scientific and autism communities. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. restructured the committee earlier this year, replacing established experts with several individuals known for promoting anti-vaccine positions and alternative treatments for autism, including chelation therapy and the use of industrial bleach.
The plan proposes nearly doubling federal spending on autism services to $760 million annually and recommends allocating $15 million specifically toward research on folate biology, particularly the use of leucovorin, a vitamin B9 derivative. This recommendation follows joint statements by President Donald Trump and Kennedy endorsing leucovorin as a potential autism therapy last September, which prompted a 71% surge in prescriptions. However, scientists have noted limited evidence for the treatment’s effectiveness beyond a very narrow patient population. The FDA subsequently approved leucovorin only for those with cerebral folate deficiency, an extremely rare condition.
A potential conflict of interest has emerged regarding Dr. Dan Rossignol, a committee member who operates a medical center offering leucovorin treatment to autistic patients and holds equity in a company developing folinic acid therapies. Rossignol stated he complied with federal ethics guidelines and that the research funding recommendation would operate independently from his practice and business interests. Helen Tager-Flusberg, an emeritus professor at Boston University and founder of the Coalition of Autism Scientists, characterized much of the plan as “fringe science that is absolutely not ready for prime time.”
The plan also calls for testing fecal microbiota transplantation for autistic individuals with gastrointestinal difficulties and proposes “supported-living models” such as campus-based communities. Autism advocacy groups have expressed concern that such institutional models could restrict personal autonomy. The strategic plan completed public consultation and was formally adopted by the committee, though several federal agency representatives abstained from the vote, citing insufficient time for review.
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