Health Care — Public trust in NIH, FDA and CDC continues to fall

Presented by the Coalition to Strengthen America's Healthcare

View Online Health Care Health Care The Big Story  Public trust in NIH, FDA and CDC continues to fall  New polling released last week found that public trust in federal agencies and authorities regarding health information has continued to fall over the past year, even as Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. embarked on his mission to restore public confidence.  © Associated Press A survey by the Annenberg Public Policy Center (APPC) at the University of Pennsylvania found that public trust in agencies like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Food and Drug Administration and the National Institutes of Health fell by 5 to 7 percentage points in the past year.     A majority of 60 percent to 62 percent of respondents still say they have some confidence in these agencies.      Since being confirmed as secretary, Kennedy has pointed to public trust to justify pushing out leaders at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and to reduce the childhood immunization schedule earlier this year.      "President Trump has asked me to restore that trust and return the CDC to its core mission," Kennedy wrote in an op-ed for The Wall Street Journal in September with the headline "We're Restoring Public Trust in the CDC."      "First, the CDC must restore public trust—and that restoration has begun. It won't stop until America's public-health institutions again serve the people with transparency, honesty and integrity," he wrote.     According to APPC Director Kathleen Hall Jamieson, building trust among the public requires "accurately representing what you do and don't know." While Kennedy avoids speaking in certainties, often arguing that he's only asking questions, it's unclear when he's willing to accept new data.    "At what point is there a sufficient amount of data opposing what he has already concluded? What level of preponderance of evidence on the other side of something that he has concluded, would it take to get him to change his mind?" Jamieson said.   Welcome to The Hill's Health Care newsletter, I am Joseph Choi — every week we follow the latest moves on how Washington impacts your health. Did someone forward you this newsletter? Subscribe here. Essential Reads  How policy will be impacting the health care sector this week and beyond: Hims & Hers to partner with Novo Nordisk and stop selling compounded GLP-1s Telehealth company Hims & Hers on Monday announced a “strategic shift” in its business model, partnering with pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk to sell its blockbuster GLP-1 medication and stop selling the “copycat” compounded versions it has long advertised. In a press release, Hims & Hers said it will “no longer advertise compounded GLP-1 offerings on its platform or in its marketing, …  Full Story Childhood obesity at a record high as MAHA presses for changes to kids' diets New data showed childhood obesity has hit a record high in recent years, while federal changes such as cuts to food assistance programs and a revamped food pyramid reignite debates over how to handle the issue.   A Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report late last month showed more than 1 in 5 U.S. children and teenagers were obese between 2021 to 2023, compared to only 5.2 …  Full Story In Other News  Branch out with a different read from The Hill: Novartis settles with Henrietta Lacks' estate over use of her 'stolen' cells to advance medicine Novartis has settled a lawsuit by the estate of Henrietta Lacks that alleged the pharmaceutical giant unjustly profited off her cells, which were taken from her tumor without her knowledge in 1951 and reproduced in labs to enable major medical advancements, including the polio vaccine. Details of the agreement, which was finalized in federal … Full Story Around the Nation  Local and state headlines on health care: Florida hasn't expanded Medicaid. Lawmakers want to add work requirements anyway. (KFF Health News)  Fee on health insurers to fund abortion services debated in WA Legislature (Washington State Standard)  Wisconsin childhood vaccination rates drop again, state health officials say (WBAY)  What We're Reading  Health news we've flagged from other outlets: Scientists get a glimpse of how new pandemics are made (The New York Times)  'I share your outrage': Democrats woo MAHA moms ahead of the midterms (Politico)  US and China clash over fentanyl and tariffs at global drugs meeting (Reuters)  What People Think  Opinions related to health submitted to The Hill: The new SNAP food restrictions aren't just confusing — they're illegal End-stage disease shouldn't be the entry to care   You're all caught up. See you tomorrow!  Check out The Hill's Health Care page for the latest coverage. Like this newsletter? Take a moment to view our other topical products here 📩 Privacy Policy  |  Manage Subscriptions  |  Unsubscribe  400 N Capitol Street NW Suite 650, Washington, DC 20001 Copyright © 1998 - 2026 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved.

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