The US Department of Health (HHS) under Robert F. Kennedy Jr. appointed 21 new members to the Interagency Committee on Autism (IACC)[2]. The committee advises federal agencies on issues of autism research, services, and policy[1]. New members have backgrounds in systems biology, neurodevelopmental disorders, public health and biomedical research[1]. Among those named are doctors, researchers, leaders of non-profit organizations, educators and people with experience with autism[1]. However, the committee reportedly lacks representation from established organizations such as Autism Speaks and the Simon's Foundation, and instead includes members from groups that support treatments and explanations for the causes of autism that have lost support in mainstream science[2]. The appointment comes at a time when the federal government is investigating several potential causes of autism[1].