Because they are made up of human beings, they are imperfect organizations. But for decades, the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have won global acclaim for their efforts to safeguard Americans.

U.S. taxpayers, with a shared commitment to improve the nation’s health, have provided largely enthusiastic support so federal experts could protect the public from debilitating outbreaks of illness, as well as problems with our food, water, prescription drugs, and medical devices.