Just 19% of Americans Say They Trust the Government in Washington

image
Created: 25 Oct, 2013
Updated: 21 Nov, 2022
1 min read
As of October 16, public trust in the government rests at near-historic lows, with just 19% of Americans saying they trust the government in Washington to do the right thing always or most of the time.

While this isn't the worst response Pew has on record, with August 2011 paralleling the distrust we see today, it's pretty bad, with the government shutdown drastically impacting public perception of our elected officials.

Pew Research Center graphed public opinion to find that, with the exception of some spikes in trust, over time our trust in the government in Washington has spiraled downward:

Credit: Pew Research Center

Public Trust in Government

Despite short term agreement, the government will find itself yet again racing the clock come 2014, and how they decide to proceed will  significantly impact how the public perceives them.

Can they regain your trust?

Latest articles

Two people talking.
A Small-Town Reminder of What Democracy Can Still Be
In an age when democracy feels more like a battleground than a meeting of minds, something remarkable happened in my small New England town, Manchester-by-the-Sea....
21 Apr, 2025
-
5 min read
Bernie Sanders and AOC at a Fighting Oligarchy rally.
Are Democrats Having Their Own MAGA Movement?
With only 562 days until the 2026 midterm elections, pundits have begun making predictions, and the Democrats' progressive wing has been very publicly asserting itself. In recent weeks, AOC and Bernie Sanders have held a series of high-profile rallies across the country, and activists have threatened primary challenges against centrist incumbents....
21 Apr, 2025
-
1 min read
American flag button on dollar bill.
The US is Pulling Away from Europe on the Road to Abundance
If the American economy is heavily regulated and interfered with by the government, it risks stagnating like that of Europe....
21 Apr, 2025
-
4 min read