Just 17% of Americans say they trust the federal government to do what is right “most of the time” or “just about always,” according to new research from the Pew Research Center.
That number marks one of the lowest levels of public trust recorded since the National Election Study first asked the question in 1958. It’s also a drop from last year’s already-low figure of 22%.
Trust hits lows across party lines
While overall trust is down, the partisan breakdown shows major gaps—and sharp reversals compared to previous years.
Today, only 9% of Democrats say they trust the government most of the time, the lowest level ever recorded for Democrats in Pew’s data. Meanwhile, 26% of Republicans and GOP-leaning independents report trusting the government, up from just 11% during the Biden administration.
These shifts reflect a long-standing pattern: Americans are more likely to trust the government when their party controls the White House. But in recent years, those swings have become more pronounced, especially among Republicans.
Trust has stayed low since 2007
Pew’s timeline shows a steady erosion in trust over decades. In 1958, a stunning 73% of Americans said they trusted the federal government “almost always” or “most of the time.” But confidence fell sharply during the Vietnam War and Watergate scandal, hitting new lows by 1980.
Trust rebounded briefly in the 1980s and again during the booming late 1990s, before falling once more during the Iraq War and the 2008 financial crisis.
A temporary spike followed the 9/11 attacks, but since 2007, trust has never risen above 30%.
Low trust spans all racial and ethnic groups
The study also found minimal differences in government trust across racial and ethnic lines:
- White adults: 16%
- Black adults: 14%
- Hispanic adults: 20%
- Asian adults: 22% (English speakers only)
Despite long-standing political and socioeconomic disparities, public skepticism toward the federal government appears to be a nearly universal sentiment in 2025.
Context: Government shutdown and political shifts
This year’s survey was conducted just before a six-week federal government shutdown that ran from October 1 to November 12, which may have further influenced public opinion. The ongoing political divide, economic concerns, and debates over government efficiency all contribute to the continued erosion of trust.
Pew’s full report includes data from multiple sources, including Gallup, CNN, ABC/Washington Post, and CBS/New York Times, along with Pew’s own American Trends Panel.
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