Public Opinion, the FDA and Public Health

Recent opinion polls provide insight into the public’s views of federal public health agencies amid the chaos and dysfunction at the Department of Health and Human Services under Robert F. Kennedy Jr., an “anti-vaxxer” and advocate for many unproven medical treatments. There are two striking findings. First, the public supports rigorous standards for the approval of new drugs, not earlier access with less complete safety testing. Second, Americans are more confident in career scientists at U.S. health agencies than in those agencies’ political leaders.

In March 2026, the POLITICO Poll conducted an online survey of 3,851 people designed to be representative of adults in the United States; the margin of error was plus or minus 1.6%.[1] All respondents were asked which of three statements came closest to their views on the testing of new drugs. Of those surveyed, 52% endorsed a statement supporting rigorous standards: “The government should slow down the approvals of new drugs to ensure they are properly tested, even if it means delaying availability for those who need them urgently.” By comparison, only 33% endorsed a statement supporting earlier access: “The government should give those who need new drugs access as early as possible, even if that means being less comprehensive in safety testing.” And 15% of respondents said they “don’t know.” Responses were similar across gender, age and race, and by whether the respondent voted for Donald Trump or Kamala Harris in 2024.[2]

In February 2026, the Annenberg Public Policy Center at the University of Pennsylvania conducted a survey of a nationally representative sample of 1,650 U.S. adults. Data were collected by web and telephone by an independent research company; the margin of error was plus or minus 3.5%.[3],[4],[5]

The survey found that 67% of respondents were confident that “career scientists at federal health agencies like the CDC, NIH, and FDA …are providing the public with trustworthy information about matters concerning public health.” By comparison, only 43% of respondents were confident that leaders of these federal health agencies were providing the public with trustworthy information; for Kennedy, even fewer respondents (38%) were confident. Public confidence was much higher in the American Heart Association (82%), the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) (77%) and the American Medical Association (73%). It was also much higher in “your doctor, nurse, or other primary care provider” (86%), as is usually the case when this question is asked.

Notably, participants were asked whose recommendation they would be “more likely to accept” if the AAP and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) disagreed “on whether newborns should be given a hepatitis B vaccine.” Of those surveyed, 42% said the AAP, 11% said the CDC, 16% said neither and 32% were not sure.

Both surveys highlight just how much leaders at federal health agencies are out of touch with the public. They also call attention to the importance of our work at Public Citizen’s Health Research Group. We advocate for more and better evidence that new drugs are safe and effective before they are allowed on the market. We support career scientists at federal health agencies, who should be able to do their jobs without political interference. In 2026, independent and reliable sources of medical information are needed more than ever.
 

References

[1] Lim D. Americans prefer stricter testing of new drugs over faster access, POLITICO poll suggests. POLITICOPRO March 23, 2026. https://subscriber.politicopro.com/article/2026/03/americans-prefer-stricter-testing-of-new-drugs-over-faster-access-politico-poll-suggests-00838944  Accessed April 17, 2026.

[2] The POLITICO Poll. Drug Testing. March 2026

[3] Annenberg Public Policy Center of the University of Pennsylvania. Stark divide: Americans more confident in career scientists at U.S. health agencies than leaders. March 5, 2026. https://www.asc.upenn.edu/news-events/news/stark-divide-americans-more-confident-career-scientists-us-health-agencies-leaders#:~:text=Strategic%20Vision-,Stark%20Divide%3A%20Americans%20More%20Confident%20in%20Career%20Scientists%20at%20U.S.,confidence%20in%20agency%20leaders%20overall. Accessed April 17, 2026.

[4] Annenberg Survey of Attitudes on Public Health (ASAPH). Methods report for the Annenberg Public Policy Center. ASAPH National Survey Wave 28. February 24, 2026.  https://www.annenbergpublicpolicycenter.org/wp-content/uploads/Y1090-APPC-National-Survey-Wave-28_Methods-Report_022426.pdf  Accessed April 17, 2026.

[5] Annenberg Public Policy Center of the University of Pennsylvania. ASAPH W28 government vs non-government organizations comparison items. March 3, 2026. https://www.annenbergpublicpolicycenter.org/wp-content/uploads/aw28-do03-topline-confcomp-v7.pdf  Accessed April 17, 2026