A federal commission that advises scientists, health organizations and Congress on autism issues has canceled its first public meeting since new commissioners were appointed earlier this year, a spokesperson said.
No reason was given. “The IACC will not be convening later this month. Further information will be shared as it becomes available,” Department of Health and Human Services spokesman Andrew Nixon said of the Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee.
The news was first reported by Reuters.
The news comes days after scientists established an independent version of the federal commission in response to Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s move to align the bodies with members who share his debunked views linking autism to vaccines. Traditionally, this committee has been made up of researchers with mainstream scientific views and autism self-advocates.
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The federal group was scheduled to meet for the first time in more than a year on March 19. It is unclear when the next meeting will be, but one member suggested on social media that the group will meet in April.
The independent group, which was scheduled to meet on the same day, will now meet again on March 19, said Helen Tager-Fulsberg, a member of the new group and director of Boston University’s Center of Excellence in Autism Research.
