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Federal advisory panel proposes overhaul of U.S. autism research priorities, drawing backlash

A 336-page draft plan by the Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee targets $270 million in federal spending for controversial research areas and alternative living models.

Updated Aug 28, 2026 · 14:29 UTC1 reports

The short version

  • The U.S. Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee (IACC) has drafted a $270 million strategic plan for federal autism research, recently concluding its public comment period.
  • Scientific and advocacy groups criticize the plan for shifting funds toward unproven alternative therapies, such as leucovorin, fecal microbiota transplants, and partner-assisted communication.
  • Disability advocates express concern over proposals to test campus and farmstead living models, fearing a return to institutional confinement.
  • The plan remains purely advisory, and federal officials will review public feedback before finalizing the document.

Key facts

  • The Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee drafted a 336-page federal strategic research plan outlining a target $270 million in spending.[The Guardian]
  • The proposal allocates $15 million for studies on folate biology and leucovorin, a therapy the FDA limited in March to individuals with rare cerebral folate deficiency.[The Guardian]
  • The plan calls for testing experimental fecal microbiota transplantation and text- or letter-based partner-assisted communication.[The Guardian]
  • The draft proposes testing supported-living models across 10 sites, including campus-based and farmstead communities.[The Guardian]
  • Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. overhauled the IACC panel in January, replacing prior experts on the 25-year-old advisory body.[The Guardian]

What remains uncertain

  • It remains uncertain how many recommendations from the advisory plan will be adopted in the final version by the administration.[The Guardian]
  • The medical efficacy and safety of several proposed therapies, including leucovorin for general autism and fecal microbiota transplants, remain scientifically unverified or disputed.[The Guardian]

Sources