Final week, CDC director Susan Monarez was fired by the Trump administration after lower than a month on the job, and at least four other senior officials resigned from the company. Secretary of Well being and Human Providers Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. has promised to restore public trust in the CDC, however our polling information suggests actual challenges given how skeptical the general public – and Republicans specifically – are concerning the company.
KFF polls have proven a gradual decline within the share of the general public saying they belief the CDC to supply dependable details about vaccines and different matters, from a excessive of 85% on the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic to 57% in our newest ballot in July. This drop was largely pushed by Republicans, amongst whom the share trusting the CDC dropped from 90% in March 2020 to 40% in September 2023 earlier than rebounding considerably following President Trump’s 2024 election victory and Kennedy’s appointment as HHS Secretary. Whereas belief amongst Democrats remained excessive all through Joe Biden’s presidency, it started to say no in President Trump’s second time period simply as Republicans confirmed indicators of accelerating belief. As of July, Democrats remained extra trusting of the CDC than Republicans, however it’s unclear how latest occasions would possibly have an effect on belief amongst partisans going ahead.
Whereas belief within the CDC as a supply of knowledge appears to be more and more seen by way of a partisan lens, there may be one other dimension that’s much less partisan however nonetheless factors to challenges for rebuilding belief. Almost six in ten adults (57%) in our latest poll say they’ve little or no confidence in authorities companies just like the CDC to make choices based mostly on science fairly than private views, and the same share (63%) lack confidence in these companies to behave independently with out interference from outdoors pursuits. Partisans are largely in settlement of their insecurity, with majorities of Democrats, independents, and Republicans expressing little to no confidence on both query.
Taken collectively, these polls recommend each alternatives and challenges going through these seeking to restore belief within the CDC. With a lot of the public missing confidence in well being companies to satisfy their core features, adjustments that emphasize the companies’ independence and science-based strategy have the potential to extend belief throughout partisans. Nonetheless, as latest traits present, actions or messages that enhance belief amongst one group could run the danger of additional eroding belief amongst others (partisanship is one instance, however there could also be different teams for whom that is true). The true problem lies in making certain the CDC might be trusted by individuals throughout partisanship and different dividing traces, ideally earlier than one other nationwide well being disaster hits.
