A new poll reveals that Americans place significantly more trust in federal scientists than in the political leaders overseeing health agencies, including those appointed during the Trump administration. The study, conducted by the University of Pennsylvania’s Annenberg Public Policy Center, highlights a growing disconnect between public perception of scientific expertise and political authority in public health.
Public Distrust in Agency Leadership
The survey of 1,650 U.S. adults found that 67% expressed confidence in scientists working at agencies like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), while only 43% felt the same about the agencies’ appointed leaders. This disparity is particularly stark when comparing trust in independent medical organizations like the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) versus the CDC: respondents favored the AAP’s advice on infant vaccinations (42%) over the CDC’s (11%) by a ratio of roughly 4 to 1.
This difference in trust is not accidental. Under the previous administration, the CDC reversed long-standing recommendations on hepatitis B vaccinations, advocating for delayed immunization—a decision that appears to have eroded public faith in agency leadership.
Fauci and RFK Jr.: A Clear Contrast
The poll also shows a clear preference for scientific figures over political ones. More respondents (54%) trusted former National Institutes of Infectious Diseases chief Anthony Fauci than current Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. (38%). Only 5% of respondents expressed “very confident” trust in the leadership of major health agencies like the FDA, NIH, or CDC.
The underlying reason is simple : the public has observed a clear gap between the recommendations of career scientists and the directives of agency leadership, even if those scientists are constrained from speaking publicly.
Erosion of Trust in Science, But Not in Scientists
While trust in scientists remains relatively high, broader polls indicate a decline in overall faith in science since the COVID-19 pandemic. Pew Research Center data show a drop from 73% positive sentiment in 2019 to 61% in January 2024, with the steepest declines among Republican voters.
However, this doesn’t mean public trust in scientists has vanished. Instead, the Annenberg Public Policy Center’s study suggests the public recognizes a difference between evidence-based science and ideologically driven policymaking.
“The public is pretty smart; they can see these agencies have been politicized,” says Georges Benjamin, CEO of the American Public Health Association. “They can see that career scientists are acting in the public interest based on evidence, not from partisan motives.”
The survey’s methodology, tracking the same respondents since 2021, lends additional weight to the findings. Despite potential limitations in sample demographics—skewing toward wealthier, educated independents—the results suggest a broad trend: Americans are discerning between scientific expertise and political interference in public health.
Ultimately, this poll underscores a critical point: public trust in health matters is increasingly directed toward the scientists doing the work, rather than the politicians making the decisions.
