The Trump administration is preparing to announce a possible link between the use of paracetamol (known as Tylenol in the US) by pregnant women and an increased risk of autism in children, according to reports from The  Washington Post and Politico. Paracetamol is a common over-the-counter painkiller and fever reducer, widely considered safe for use during pregnancy. Medical guidelines until now have stated that the drug does not pose risks to pregnant women or their unborn children.

According to Politico, President Donald Trump plans to advise that Tylenol or its generic form, acetaminophen, should only be used in pregnancy for high fevers, due to potential autism risks. Trump has also expressed concern about the rising number of autism cases in the US, saying the condition is “totally out of control” and stating that there may be reasons behind the increase.

Reports say the announcement could be made during a memorial for conservative activist Charlie Kirk on Sunday. The Wall Street Journal reported that US Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is reviewing earlier studies, including research from Mount Sinai and Harvard, which indicate a potential link between Tylenol use in early pregnancy and higher autism risk in children.

Also, researchers are examining leucovorin, a drug used to counter certain medication side effects and treat vitamin B9 deficiency. Studies around leucovorin have reignited debates within the scientific community and are prompting a reassessment of autism causes, challenging the view that autism is primarily genetic and untreatable.

Separately, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) will launch a new autism data science initiative on September 22, funding 13 research teams to study the causes and treatments of autism. This effort is being led by career officials and is separate from a broader NIH review of autism research, which is still ongoing. NIH officials stress the importance of a thorough review guided by scientific staff rather than rushed to coincide with the upcoming announcement.

The White House emphasised the administration’s focus on autism, with spokesperson Kush Desai saying that President Trump is committed to addressing the rising autism rates in the US using “Gold Standard Science.”