A new KFF poll shows Americans’ trust in the CDC has dropped to its lowest point since COVID-19, creating an opportunity for clinical laboratories to become trusted local voices in public health.
An article from CIDRAP recently reported that public trust in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has fallen to its lowest level since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a KFF poll. The decline comes amid renewed misinformation about vaccines and autism and reflects growing skepticism toward the agency from both sides of the political spectrum.
The survey, conducted September 23–29 among more than 1,300 adults, found that only 18% of respondents have “a great deal” of trust in the CDC to provide reliable vaccine information, and 32% have “a fair amount.” That means just half of Americans have at least some trust in the CDC—down from 63% in 2023 and 57% as recently as mid-2025.
The findings followed remarks by President Donald Trump linking acetaminophen use in pregnancy to autism and calling for the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine to be split into three separate shots, claims that lack scientific evidence.
The erosion of trust, however, extends beyond political statements. While conservatives have long viewed the CDC with suspicion over perceived government overreach during COVID-19, many liberals now express frustration with what they see as inconsistency and political influence within the agency.
Higher Trust in Professional Medical Organizations
Interestingly, trust remains higher in professional medical organizations. Sixty-nine percent of parents polled said they trust the American Academy of Pediatrics, and 64% said they trust the American Medical Association.
“It’s encouraging, if far from ideal, that as trust in our nation’s scientific agencies crumbles, the public does trust the professional associations who have stepped forward,” said KFF president and CEO Drew Altman, PhD, in the organization’s press release. (Photo credit: KFF)
Support for Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and his “Make America Health Again” (MAHA) movement was also low, with 62% disapproving of his handling of vaccine policy and 59% disapproving of his overall job performance.
What Labs Can Do
Amid this erosion of trust in federal health leadership, local clinical and public health laboratories may be poised to fill an emerging gap. Because labs are often the first to detect spikes in testing volume or positive results, they have a front-line view of disease trends—sometimes days or weeks before such patterns are visible nationally. If skepticism toward the CDC continues to grow, local labs could play an increasingly vital role in identifying and communicating outbreaks, especially during flu season or in the event of a new respiratory virus surge.
Beyond surveillance, labs can also help rebuild confidence in science by engaging their communities directly. Educational outreach, transparent data sharing, and collaboration with local healthcare providers can position laboratories as trusted sources of public health information, at a time when trust in national institutions is faltering.
As the CDC works to rebuild its credibility, laboratories across the country have a unique opportunity to step into the information void by translating data into understanding, and helping restore the link between diagnostics, public awareness, and trust in science.
This article was created with the assistance of Generative AI and has undergone editorial review before publishing.
—Janette Wider
