Health Department Recommends Newborns Get Screened for 2 More Conditions

Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. approved recommending screening for Duchenne muscular dystrophy and Metachromatic leukodystrophy.

Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. arrives before a press conference at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Arlington, Va., on Dec. 8, 2025. Heather Diehl/Getty Images

Two new conditions are now recommended for newborn screening, officials said on Dec. 16.

Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. approved adding Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) and metachromatic leukodystrophy (MLD) to the list of disorders for which officials recommend screening newborns.