The politicization of public health in the United States predates the COVID-19 pandemic, with experts noting that this trend has eroded public trust in health institutions and scientific integrity. Commentators including John Tierney and contributors to The Lancet emphasize that to regain public confidence, the public health profession must return to its foundational principles, prioritizing evidence over ideology and humility over hubris. The politicization intensified during the Trump administration, which has had global implications for how scientific knowledge is produced and trusted. The loss of trust is compounded by hyperpartisanship and a de-prioritization of policy expertise, leading to profound divides in public confidence in health agencies and recommendations. Calls for radical change stress the need for science to be a neutral pursuit of truth. Additionally, concerns have been raised about the consequences of empowering anti-vaccine conspiracists, which have led to the resurgence of preventable diseases. Leaders are urged to base public health decisions on science rather than conspiracy theories. Parallel critiques have emerged regarding the progressive movement's shift away from universal values toward more narrowly defined cultural and policy priorities, which some argue undermines progress as traditionally understood.