Trust in U.S. Public Health Agencies Declines as RFK Jr. Faces Confirmation Hearings

A new poll highlights partisan divides on health agency trust and vaccine attitudes as Robert F. Kennedy Jr. awaits Senate approval for HHS leadership.

A KFF poll shows that trust in federal health agencies, including the CDC and FDA, has dropped significantly since mid-2023, with Republicans expressing the lowest trust levels.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., President Trump's nominee for Secretary of Health and Human Services, faces criticism for his vaccine skepticism, including promoting the debunked claim linking vaccines to autism.
Partisan divides are stark, with 84% of Republicans trusting Trump and Kennedy on health issues, compared to just over 40% of Democrats.
Support for childhood vaccines remains strong overall, but Republican parents are increasingly delaying or skipping vaccinations, with the rate doubling from 13% in 2023 to 26% in 2025.
The American Academy of Pediatrics has reaffirmed the importance of vaccines, emphasizing their role in protecting children’s health as Kennedy’s nomination raises concerns among public health experts.