Stop the Misinformation - Defend Science in Public Health

I write as your constituent deeply alarmed by the White House press conference on September 22, 2025, in which President Trump made sweeping claims that acetaminophen (Tylenol) use during pregnancy causes autism and that vaccines (especially compressed schedules) are contributing to autism in children. These assertions have been widely rejected by the medical community as unfounded or unproven. I believe that federal policy and public statements should be grounded in sound science. What we know now from recent high-quality studies is: A large Swedish nationwide cohort study (≈2.5 million children) found that when comparing full-sibling pairs (which helps control for genetic and shared environmental factors), acetaminophen use during pregnancy was not associated with increased risk of autism, ADHD, or intellectual disability. Major professional bodies like the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine explicitly state that the evidence is inconclusive and that acetaminophen remains an appropriate treatment for fever or pain during pregnancy when used at the lowest effective dose for the shortest duration. Because reckless or misleading public health statements by elected leaders can undermine trust, cause fear among parents, discourage proper care (e.g. in managing fever during pregnancy), or lead to disuse of medically necessary treatments, I urge you to support the following actions: 1. Demand rigorous review of any proposed guidance or labeling changes by independent panels of experts, using the highest standards of evidence. 2. Ensure transparency of data used to support any regulatory change—publication of studies, methodology, confounding factors, etc. 3. Protect regulatory institutions (FDA, NIH, CDC) from political pressure to issue recommendations that exceed the weight of scientific proof. 4. Support funding for well-designed, prospective, controlled studies to examine any possible risks of acetaminophen use during pregnancy, dose-response, timing, etc., as well as to confirm safety where evidence remains strong. 5. Reaffirm science communication: public communications by federal officials should clearly distinguish hypothesis/associational findings from established causal proof, to avoid misleading the public. We deserve policies based on evidence, not conjecture. I ask you to publicly oppose premature or politically motivated medical guidance, and insist that any recommendations follow robust scientific consensus. Thank you for your attention to this urgent issue. I look forward to your response and to knowing how you will work to ensure that medical regulation and guidance in the U.S. remain science-based and free from misinformation.