U.S. — Researchers from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and the de Beaumont Foundation conducted a survey of U.S. adults on public health topics, which found a decline in public trust in federal health agencies. The survey, conducted between March 19 and April 1, 2026, indicated that 50 percent of respondents trusted Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommendations in 2026, a decrease from 77 percent in 2025.

The survey involved 2,205 U.S. adults aged 18 and older. The margin of error for the results was plus or minus 2.0 percentage points at a 95 percent confidence interval. Trust in the CDC among Democrats decreased from 92 percent in 2025 to 34 percent in 2026, while trust among Independents decreased from 77 percent to 47 percent during the same period. However, trust in the CDC among Republicans saw an increase, rising from 63 percent to 67 percent between 2025 and 2026.

Overall trust in the CDC decreased by at least 30 percentage points among several demographic groups, including women, Black and Hispanic adults, urban residents, and college graduates. The survey also revealed that 55 percent of respondents disapproved of the performance of federal public health agencies since early 2025. Fewer than 40 percent of respondents agreed that federal agencies made recommendations based on the best available scientific evidence, and less than one-third of respondents believed federal agencies had reduced political or financial influence.

Clinicians, such as nurses, doctors, and pharmacists, were identified as the most trusted sources of health information by the survey respondents. On the topic of vaccines, large majorities across political parties supported school vaccination requirements for measles, mumps, and rubella. Most respondents, 58 percent, opposed reducing the childhood vaccine schedule, while 42 percent supported such a reduction. Eighty-nine percent of respondents considered routine childhood vaccines either very or somewhat safe for most children, although the percentage rating them as very safe declined from 63 percent in 2025 to 57 percent in 2026.

No independent assessment was available for this report.