CDC Ranks Highest Among U.S. Government Agencies in Gallup Poll

The staff of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have a vital job to do—they are charged with protecting the health security and safety of all Americans and also play an important role in supporting the health of the U.S. economy. So late last week, I read with interest the results of a national Gallup poll that found Americans once again ranked CDC highest among nine major federal agencies.

CDC scientists and staff are dedicated to advancing research and best practices on a variety of public health topics—contagious and chronic diseases, injuries, environmental health, emergency preparedness and response, workplace safety and global health. In addition, CDC over the past year has responded to a myriad of public health challenges, including a new strain of bird flu in China, a new coronavirus in the Middle East, the meningitis outbreak in the United States as well as multiple foodborne outbreaks throughout the country.

Despite these public health challenges and the fact CDC’s program level budget has been reduced through cuts and sequestration by nearly $580 million for fiscal year 2013, Americans in high numbers approve of CDC’s work, recognizing the value CDC’s scientists and staff contribute each day. In fact, 60 percent of those Americans surveyed ranked CDC’s work as being excellent or good—more than five percentage points higher than the next highest-rated federal agency, the FBI.

As CDC’s nonprofit partner, we have firsthand knowledge of CDC’s work on behalf of our country. We are pleased to see that the American public also values CDC’s efforts.