In a powerful address at the National Governors Association Meeting in Colorado, DHHS Secretary RFK Jr. sounded the alarm on a looming public health crisis, linking skyrocketing rates of chronic diseases, including autism and diabetes, to systemic failures in the American healthcare system. With a stark warning that we are witnessing an “apocalypse” in childhood health, he revealed alarming statistics: autism rates have surged from 1 in 10,000 in the 1970s to 1 in 31 today, while nearly 40% of American teens are now diabetic or pre-diabetic.

RFK Jr. underscored the pressing urgency of the situation, revealing that the federal government is spending a staggering $1.3 trillion on chronic disease care—a financial burden that is bankrupting states. “Eight out of every ten American kids cannot qualify for military service,” he stated, highlighting a generation under siege from health issues rooted in poor nutrition and environmental toxins.

The Secretary urged governors to take immediate action by implementing nutritional reforms in schools and applying for SNAP waivers to reduce the consumption of ultra-processed foods. “We are poisoning our children,” he declared, calling for collective measures to reverse these alarming trends.

As he spoke, the urgency in his voice resonated with the audience, many of whom are grappling with the implications of this public health crisis. “If we don’t act now, we are jeopardizing the future of our children and our nation,” he warned, emphasizing that the time for change is now. The stakes have never been higher, and RFK Jr.’s call to action demands immediate attention from all corners of government and society.