Debate: Standing up for science – how to combat misinformation in child mental health: protecting the integrity of autism research and practice in the United States

In 2025, the Coalition of Autism Scientists was formed to counter the misinformation and pseudoscience that was being advanced at the highest levels of the federal government in the United States. The background and history of how the Coalition was formed and its major activities, which include regular meetings, issuing public statements, and providing information and interviews to the media, are described. The importance of engaging in active advocacy in support of autism science is discussed along with some examples of the Coalition's impact. Given the direction that politics is going, sowing greater dissent between science and the public, continued vigilance in support of the highest quality research is critical if we are to meet the urgent needs of autistic people and their families.