US EditionTrump promised RFK Jr. would ‘restore faith in American health care.’ A year in, trust has plummeted
Since RFK Jr.'s appointment, trust in federal health agencies fell from 59% to 47%, amid reorganizations, mass firings, and rising vaccine-preventable disease outbreaks, KFF reported.
- On February 13, 2026, KFF polling released last week found trust in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has fallen to 47%.
- Amid a broad HHS overhaul, thousands of CDC, FDA, and NIH employees were fired the day after Kennedy's swearing-in, part of a Department of Government Efficiency purge.
- Public-Health records show HHS reduced routine childhood vaccines from 17 to 11 and stopped newborn hepatitis B vaccine recommendation, while measles outbreaks in Texas and South Carolina caused multiple deaths.
- Public-Health experts warn trust in federal agencies has declined, risking fewer vaccinations and more serious illnesses, with trust in Kennedy at 37% in January.
- Despite some policy wins, supporters and conservative allies celebrated first-year reforms and the $100 million pilot program announced on February 2, while HHS still serves nearly 75 million Americans receiving Social Security and ACA coverage.
14 Articles
14 Articles
RFK Jr. promised to restore trust in US health agencies. A year later, it’s eroding
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is reshaping U.S. health policy as HHS secretary, and doctors say his changes are eroding trust. Survey results show Americans' confidence keeps sliding, not rising. Kennedy has cut vaccine guidance, dismissed advisers and pushed claims medical…
KRQE News 13
KFOR-TV1 year of RFK Jr.: How his MAHA agenda has reshaped US public health
Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s first year in office has upended decades of public health norms. He’s touted his overhauls as major wins for his “Make America Healthy Again” (MAHA) agenda, but critics call his actions "chaos" while his supporters are hoping he’ll deliver more. Following a testy confirmation process marked by cracks in the GOP over Kennedy’s views, the Senate confirmed him as HHS secretary on Feb…
Texas, a health battleground: US state sees clash between science and politics
Ever since Donald Trump's return to the White House and the appointment of Robert F. Kennedy Jr as Secretary of Health, the United States has become the scene of a growing clash between science and politics. One field in particular is paying the price of this ideological battle: health. FRANCE 24's Pierrick Leurent and Valerie Defert report from Texas.
Trump promised RFK Jr. would ‘restore faith in American health care.’ A year in, trust has plummeted
Trust in government health agencies has plummeted, according to health policy and research group KFF, with declines across the political spectrum. And experts told CNN that they fear things could get worse.
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