FDA Policy/General

Little Trust in New Health Leaders: Poll

David McFarland

— 2 min read
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A new poll finds that 44% of the U.S. public says that having new leaders in charge of federal public health agencies will make them trust recommendations coming from the organizations less than they used to (30% a “lot less” and 14% a “little less).” The poll was published by Harvard University’s T.H. Chan School of Public Health. Some 28% of respondents said the changes in health leadership will make them trust recommendations more (18% a “lot more” and 8% a “little more”), while 27% said their level of trust would not change.

A school statement says trust in the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) remained relatively stable in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, with 77% of adults saying that they have a great deal (38%) or some (39%) trust in its recommendations.

The poll results are divided along partisan lines, the statement says, with 76% of Democrats saying they will lose trust and 57% of Republicans saying they will gain some level of trust.

Asked whether the CDC will function better or worse than before in the next four years, 48% of respondents said better and 52% said worse, with 80% of Republicans saying the agency will function better and 83% of Democrats saying it will function worse.

Majorities of those who believe CDC will function worse are concerned that it will make health recommendations influenced by corporations and big businesses (68%), make recommendations based on unproven or fringe science (63%), pay less attention to the health gaps between the wealthy and the poor (64%), and pay less attention to health gaps between people who are White and those who are in racial minority groups (61%).

Among those who believe CDC will function better, only one-third or fewer say they are very confident it will fulfill promises like reducing financial waste (33%), making health recommendations based on good research that has been ignored by prior leaders (28%), focusing more on the primary health problems facing people in the U.S. like chronic illnesses (27%), and improving the health of people across the U.S. (26%).

The poll found bipartisan support for several issues for public health agencies to prioritize:

  • preventing chronic diseases;
  • protecting against new viruses that could become pandemics;
  • reducing maternal and infant mortality;
  • ensuring the safety of tap water;
  • addressing mental illness;
  • addressing opioid and other substance addiction;
  • promoting healthier food and nutrition; and
  • protecting people from common health risks like foodborne illness or heat stroke.

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