In a tumultuous week for American public health, the Trump administration and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. have ignited controversy with a series of unprecedented actions and statements. From mass layoffs at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to unsubstantiated claims linking childhood circumcision, Tylenol, and vaccines to autism, the nation’s health policy landscape has been upended—leaving scientists, physicians, and the broader public grappling with uncertainty and alarm.
On October 9, 2025, during a high-level roundtable meeting in the Oval Office, Secretary Kennedy made a startling assertion: children who have been circumcised early in life “have double the rate of autism” compared to those who have not undergone the procedure. Kennedy attributed this supposed increase to the administration of acetaminophen—commonly known by the brand name Tylenol—after circumcision. “There are two studies that show children who are circumcised early have double the rate of autism,” Kennedy said, adding, “It’s highly likely because they’re given Tylenol.” According to Straight Arrow News and RadarOnline.com, Kennedy’s remarks were delivered in response to President Donald Trump’s request for an update on the Department of Health and Human Services’ ongoing review of what he has repeatedly described as an “autism epidemic.”
President Trump, who has previously voiced skepticism about the safety of vaccines and over-the-counter medications, echoed Kennedy’s concerns. He advised pregnant people to “tough it out” before reaching for Tylenol, despite guidance from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and leading medical organizations that recommend acetaminophen for pain relief during pregnancy over nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) due to the risk of low amniotic fluid. “Don’t take it,” Trump said. “You’ll be uncomfortable. It won’t be as easy, maybe. But don’t take it if you’re pregnant. Don’t take Tylenol, and don’t give it to the baby after the baby is born.” Trump acknowledged that his position was based on personal opinion rather than scientific consensus, remarking, “I talk about a lot of common sense. And they have that too, a lot.”
These claims have been met with swift pushback from the medical community and pharmaceutical companies. Tylenol, for its part, launched a campaign featuring webpage pop-ups and social media posts refuting the administration’s assertions. “If you are treating your little one with acetaminophen, please know that there is no credible science that shows taking acetaminophen causes autism,” the company stated. “When searching what medicine may be suitable for infants and children, the best thing you can do is to speak with your health care provider—they will guide you on what is best for your child’s pain and fever.”
The Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine weighed in as well, warning that letting a fever go untreated during pregnancy can actually increase the risk of miscarriage, birth defects, and premature birth. Doctors routinely advise those at least 20 weeks into pregnancy to use acetaminophen for pain relief rather than NSAIDs, a position supported by the FDA.
Kennedy’s comments have also sparked a heated debate on social media. Critics questioned the consistency of the administration’s messaging, with one X user asking, “So is mothers taking Tylenol the cause of autism, or is it babies taking Tylenol?” Others accused Kennedy of veiled anti-Semitism, given that circumcision is a common religious practice among Jewish Americans. Some even speculated that Tylenol might pursue legal action against the administration for the potentially damaging claims. The backlash was not limited to policy critiques; Kennedy was labeled “the dumbest person” and “certifiably insane” by some online commentators, highlighting the emotional intensity of the discourse.
Medical experts have sought to clarify the science behind Kennedy’s claims. Dr. Céline Gounder, a medical contributor for CBS News, noted that Kennedy appears to be referencing two studies from 2013 and 2015. The 2013 study acknowledged possible bias and confounding factors, finding only a correlation—not causation—between circumcision and autism. The 2015 Danish study found an increased risk of autism in circumcised boys under five, but this risk disappeared as they aged. “They’re likely picking up on the fact that kids undergoing circumcision in the health care system have greater contact with the health care system and have parents with higher levels of education and income—all of which are associated with being diagnosed with autism at a younger age than other kids,” Gounder explained. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has repeatedly emphasized that autism is a complex, highly variable disorder with no credible links to vaccines or acetaminophen. The AAP also refuted Trump’s claim that children receive “82 vaccines simultaneously,” clarifying that the schedule only includes FDA-licensed vaccines and should not be altered without medical consultation.
While the administration’s rhetoric has dominated headlines, its actions have sent shockwaves through the public health infrastructure. On October 11, 2025, Secretary Kennedy dismissed more than 1,000 scientists, doctors, and public health officials from the Department of Health and Human Services, according to MSNBC. The layoffs, which occurred during the second week of a government shutdown, were part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to reduce the federal workforce and, as Trump put it, “punish Democrats.” The CDC was hit particularly hard, with layoffs spanning more than a dozen divisions and decimating teams responsible for disease outbreak investigations, infectious disease responses, data collection, scientific reporting, and communication with Congress and global partners.
The impact was immediate and profound. The CDC’s entire Washington office, which served as the agency’s conduit to lawmakers and the broader public health community, was eliminated. Key personnel involved in responding to the largest U.S. measles outbreak in three decades were among those initially fired, though some later received emails rescinding their layoff notices due to what an HHS official described as a “miscoding error.” Nevertheless, the disruption to critical public health functions was already significant. Dr. Demetre Daskalakis, former director of the CDC’s National Center on Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, lamented, “CDC is over. It was killed. This administration only knows how to break things. They have made America at risk for outbreaks and attacks by nefarious players. People should be scared.”
Three people have died of measles in 2025, and hundreds of children have been quarantined due to outbreaks in South Carolina and Minnesota. The firings have affected teams that publish the agency’s flagship Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, as well as programs like the Epidemic Intelligence Service, which trains the next generation of public health leaders.
HHS spokesperson Andrew Nixon defended the cuts, blaming Democrats for the government shutdown and describing the CDC as a “bloated bureaucracy.” President Trump echoed this sentiment, stating, “We’re only cutting Democrat programs.” However, critics argue that the mass firings and Kennedy’s leadership have undermined the CDC’s nonpartisan tradition, replacing experienced scientists with ideological loyalists and leaving the nation more vulnerable to public health threats.
As the dust settles, the future of America’s public health institutions hangs in the balance. The convergence of controversial health claims, mass firings, and political infighting has left both the scientific community and the public questioning what comes next—and who they can trust to safeguard the nation’s health.
