Public Health

A year after significant shifts in federal leadership within the U.S. public health system, a precipitous decline in public trust has emerged. According to a new poll conducted by the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and the de Beaumont Foundation, only 50% of U.S. adults now say they trust health recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a stark drop from 77% in the spring of 2025.

Entrenched Partisan Divides

This erosion of confidence is largely driven by entrenched partisan divides. Between 2025 and 2026, trust in CDC health recommendations plummeted from 92% to 34% among Democrats, and from 77% to 47% among Independents. Conversely, trust among Republicans saw a marginal increase from 63% to 67%. The decline also translates to significant losses across various demographic groups, including women, Black and Hispanic adults, and those residing in urban areas.

"The link between political affiliation and trust in public health institutions is worrisome and doesn’t bode well for the future. Science should not be a point of view. Once facts are politicized, it becomes increasingly difficult to bridge the divide." — Brian C. Castrucci, President and CEO of the de Beaumont Foundation

Resilient Support for Childhood Vaccines

Despite the overarching skepticism toward federal agencies, a remarkable consensus remains regarding childhood immunization. More than three-quarters (77%) of the public affirm that parents should be required to vaccinate their children for school attendance. This includes robust majorities from both Democrats (91%) and Republicans (65%). However, experts note a slight softening in the perception of absolute vaccine safety, with the fraction of adults rating childhood vaccines as "very safe" dipping from 70% during the pandemic peak to 57% today.

Bipartisan Backing for Dietary Reform

The poll also highlighted strong, bipartisan support for recent modifications to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. An overwhelming 90% of respondents favor recommendations to avoid or sharply limit sugar and highly processed foods. Similarly, 85% support increasing protein intake, demonstrating a unified public desire for nutritional clarity amidst broader institutional distrust.

Official Press Release

As a dedicated social media embed for this specific polling release is not currently active, readers are directed to the official Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health press release for comprehensive methodology and full topline findings:

Read the full original report on Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health