On February 13, 2025, President Donald Trump expressed concerns about public trust in health agencies. He appointed Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, promising reforms to restore that trust. However, a year later, polling data revealed a disappointing outcome.
According to the KFF health policy group, trust in government health agencies has sharply declined across all political groups. Dr. Jason Schwartz from Yale stated that federal agencies now hinder vaccination efforts against diseases like measles and whooping cough, a situation unimaginable just a few years ago.
Andrew Nixon, a spokesperson for HHS, attributed the erosion of trust to the Biden administration’s mixed messages and lack of transparency. Kennedy was tasked with reversing this trend through openness and accountability. However, his approach involved significant cuts within health organizations, including firing experts on the CDC’s vaccine advisory panel.
Just a week after Kennedy’s appointment, a measles death in Texas underscored a growing public health crisis. This incident was part of a trend; his year in office saw rising measles cases and even more lives lost.
Experts worry that critical knowledge is missing within the CDC, with significant staff reductions affecting its ability to respond to health crises. Dr. Caitlin Rivers from Johns Hopkins noted that local health departments often rely on the CDC for expertise that is currently lacking.
Public trust in the CDC has dropped to 47%, according to a recent KFF poll, indicating a widening distrust among both Democrats and Republicans. Trust in Kennedy as a health authority is also low, with only 37% of respondents expressing confidence in him. In contrast, even Trump’s trust level was slightly lower.
The decline in trust coincides with recent changes in vaccine recommendations and policies that many public health experts feel are not based on scientific evidence. Dr. Michael Osterholm criticized the decision-making approach at HHS, stating that public health policies seem more ideological than evidence-based. He warned that these changes could lead to an increase in vaccine-preventable diseases.
Recent adjustments to the childhood vaccine schedule aimed to align with other countries, but experts deem these revisions risky and unsupported by substantial data. Another controversial move includes the halt of a routine hepatitis B vaccination at birth, raising alarms over increased health complications and infections.
This backdrop of mistrust was further complicated by violence directed at health institutions. Following a shooting incident at the CDC headquarters, hundreds of health workers called on Kennedy to stop spreading misinformation. Yet, Kennedy claimed strong public support for his agency’s mission, despite what polling data suggests.
The current political climate is also influencing public perception of health policies. Traditional healthcare issues like drug pricing and nutrition are gaining attention as midterm elections approach. Trump’s “most favored nation” proposal aims to lower drug prices, which, although popular, fails to address the long-standing damage done to public health systems.
Despite attempts to promote healthier eating habits and nutrition reform, experts caution that they cannot overshadow the public health challenges compounded by the current administration. Dr. Marion Nestle pointed out that recent setbacks to the credibility of health agencies might have lasting consequences that outweigh any positive initiatives introduced.
While Kennedy’s supporters may argue that he’s leading progressive changes in health policy, the evidence suggests a deeper crisis. Trust in federal health agencies remains shaky, and public reactions indicate a growing skepticism about the direction of U.S. health policies. Restoring confidence will require more than just promises; it will necessitate a commitment to transparency, science, and genuine public engagement.
For further insights on public trust and health policies, you can refer to the KFF health opinion polls.
