US Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and other health officials frequently say they are following "gold standard science." Samuel Corum/Getty Images

The message is hammered over and over, in news conferences, hearings and executive orders: President Donald Trump and his health secretary, Robert F. Kennedy Jr ., say they want the government to follow “gold standard” science .

Scientists say the problem is that they are often doing just the opposite by relying on preliminary studies, fringe science or just hunches to make claims, cast doubt on proven treatments or even set policy.

This week, the nation’s top public health agency changed its website to contradict the scientific conclusion that vaccines do not cause autism. The move shocked health experts nationwid

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