Pew Research: Trust in Government Near Historic Lows

Trust in the federal government has plummeted to just 17%, according to a new Pew Research Center report — among the lowest levels since the question was first asked in 1958. Only 2% of Americans say they trust the government “just about always,” and 15% say “most of the time.” Back in 1958, 73% felt that way.

The erosion of trust didn’t happen overnight. From Vietnam and Watergate to 9/11, Iraq, and the 2008 financial crisis, public confidence has taken repeated hits. Since 2007, trust has never climbed above 30%.

One clear trend: Americans tend to trust the government more when their party holds the presidency. Today, just 9% of Democrats say they trust the government, down from 35% a year ago — before the current administration. Meanwhile, 26% of Republicans express trust, up from 11% under Biden. Trust levels swing with the political winds, suggesting partisanship now plays a greater role than policy in shaping public opinion.

Despite differences by party, race and ethnicity show surprisingly similar levels of low trust — with just 14% of Black Americans, 16% of White Americans, 20% of Hispanic adults, and 22% of Asian adults saying they trust the federal government most or all of the time.

With such a widespread crisis of confidence, the question isn’t just why trust has eroded — it’s how we rebuild it.

🗳️ Poll:
Do you trust the federal government to do the right thing?

• Yes

• No

• Sometimes, but not lately

Let us know in the comments and also share what would restore your trust.