US public trust in federal government and health agencies declines

Recent polling indicates a decline in public trust toward the United States federal government and its health institutions. An Axios-Ipsos survey found that 53% of Americans report having a fair amount or a great deal of trust in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a decrease from 62% in March 2025. Trust in healthcare information from President Donald Trump fell to 20%, while belief in information from Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. dropped to 25%.

Separately, a Gallup poll shows that overall trust in the executive branch has fallen to 33%, a decline from 41% the previous year. This figure is lower than the previous record low of 40% set during the Watergate era. Confidence in Congress stands at 28%, and while the judiciary maintains the highest confidence level at 46%, that figure also represents a record low. The decline in trust for the government’s handling of international issues was particularly sharp, dropping 12 percentage points to 33%.