Erin McCanlies, an epidemiologist, spent two decades researching the link between parental workplace chemical exposure and autism. She discovered significant connections, finding that parents of children with autism were more likely to have been exposed to certain solvents. Her research indicated specific gene variants amplified the risk when combined with solvent exposure. Meanwhile, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., now leading the Department of Health and Human Services, promoted a new autism research initiative. He expressed skepticism towards existing autism research, particularly studies that did not find a link between vaccines and autism. Kennedy also oversaw drastic cuts to federal autism research funding and eliminated McCanlies' division. Experts worry Kennedy's initiative may ignore or manipulate decades of established scientific findings on autism's environmental causes. Despite his past environmental activism, Kennedy has remained publicly silent on the Trump administration's rollback of pollution protections. These rollbacks include weakening regulations on chemicals previously linked to autism. McCanlies believes Kennedy is unaware of the extensive research on autism's environmental factors.