Right now, the CDC is undergoing major leadership changes, and many Americans are losing trust in the agency. A 2025 Harvard Public Health poll found that 44% of Americans expect to trust CDC guidance less under its new leadership. That loss of trust matters, because the CDC’s work shapes public health every day.
Most people know the CDC tracks diseases and issues alerts, but its impact goes far deeper. It ensures that vaccines are safe, analyzes data to prevent outbreaks, and guides decisions that protect millions.
I saw this impact up close while volunteering at the CDC’s Data Detectives Camp, where middle-schoolers learned how real health data is used to track diseases and prevent illness. Campers came from various places across the country, including California, Florida, Washington D.C., and Atlanta. Two of those campers were Westminster students. One moment stood out: after arranging data in a table, one of my students was totally lost. But when I helped them turn it into a bar graph, everything clicked. It reminded me how powerful clear data communication is, and how much trust depends on understanding.
That connects to what I see at school, too. In a quick survey I ran, 7 out of 10 Westminster students knew what the CDC is and felt that it helps them in their daily lives. Young people want reliable information; they just need it presented in a way they can grasp.
At camp, I watched students move from confusion to confidently explaining their findings. They weren’t just learning math; they were learning how data supports decisions that keep communities safe. A few weeks later, a shooting occurred on the same CDC campus building where camp had been held. The buildings were found with more than 180 bullets, and 40 of those were shot at buildings in which we spent time in the camp. The responding police officer was shot and killed. It was a sobering reminder of the challenges CDC employees face while doing work that often goes unnoticed.
Programs like Data Detectives show the CDC’s commitment to developing the next generation of scientists and health leaders. But without public trust, even the best science struggles to make an impact. The CDC doesn’t just track diseases, it protects every American, and its ability to do that depends on people believing in it.