{"id":1667116,"date":"2026-03-02T12:20:00","date_gmt":"2026-03-02T17:20:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bugaluu.com\/news\/?p=1667116"},"modified":"2026-03-02T12:20:00","modified_gmt":"2026-03-02T17:20:00","slug":"trust-in-the-us-government-has-plunged-from-77-to-17","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bugaluu.com\/news\/trust-in-the-us-government-has-plunged-from-77-to-17\/1667116\/","title":{"rendered":"Trust In The US Government Has Plunged From 77% To 17%"},"content":{"rendered":"

Trust In The US Government Has Plunged From 77% To 17%<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Over the past seven decades, Americans\u2019 trust in the federal government has dropped from postwar highs to historic lows. <\/strong><\/p>\n

In 1964, 77% said they trusted Washington to do what is right most of the time.<\/p>\n

As of September 2025, that figure stands at just 17%.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The chart below, via Visual Capitalist’s Niccolo Conte,<\/a> tracks this long-term shift, using data from\u00a0Pew Research Center<\/a>.<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

While trust has occasionally surged during moments of national crisis, the broader trajectory shows a steady erosion across generations.<\/strong><\/p>\n

From Postwar Highs to Vietnam-Era Decline<\/h2>\n

Trust peaked in 1964, when 77% of Americans said they trusted the federal government most of the time. Even in 1958, nearly three-quarters of the public expressed confidence in the federal government.<\/p>\n

That began to change in the late 1960s and early 1970s. By 1970, trust had fallen to 54%, and it slipped further to 36% by 1974 in the aftermath of\u00a0Watergate<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The Vietnam War, political scandals, and economic turbulence reshaped public opinion for decades to come.<\/p>\n

Date
\n\t\t\tTrust the government (%)
\n\t\t9\/28\/2025
\n\t\t\t17
\n\t\t2\/9\/2025
\n\t\t\t19
\n\t\t5\/19\/2024
\n\t\t\t18
\n\t\t6\/11\/2023
\n\t\t\t19
\n\t\t05\/01\/2022
\n\t\t\t20
\n\t\t4\/11\/2021
\n\t\t\t21
\n\t\t8\/2\/2020
\n\t\t\t24
\n\t\t4\/12\/2020
\n\t\t\t21
\n\t\t3\/25\/2019
\n\t\t\t17
\n\t\t12\/04\/2017
\n\t\t\t18
\n\t\t4\/11\/2017
\n\t\t\t19
\n\t\t10\/04\/2015
\n\t\t\t18
\n\t\t7\/20\/2014
\n\t\t\t19
\n\t\t2\/26\/2014
\n\t\t\t18
\n\t\t11\/15\/2013
\n\t\t\t20
\n\t\t10\/13\/2013
\n\t\t\t19
\n\t\t5\/31\/2013
\n\t\t\t20
\n\t\t02\/06\/2013
\n\t\t\t22
\n\t\t1\/13\/2013
\n\t\t\t23
\n\t\t10\/31\/2012
\n\t\t\t19
\n\t\t10\/19\/2011
\n\t\t\t17
\n\t\t10\/04\/2011
\n\t\t\t15
\n\t\t9\/23\/2011
\n\t\t\t18
\n\t\t8\/21\/2011
\n\t\t\t21
\n\t\t2\/28\/2011
\n\t\t\t23
\n\t\t10\/21\/2010
\n\t\t\t23
\n\t\t10\/01\/2010
\n\t\t\t21
\n\t\t09\/06\/2010
\n\t\t\t23
\n\t\t09\/01\/2010
\n\t\t\t23
\n\t\t04\/05\/2010
\n\t\t\t23
\n\t\t04\/05\/2010
\n\t\t\t22
\n\t\t3\/21\/2010
\n\t\t\t24
\n\t\t2\/12\/2010
\n\t\t\t22
\n\t\t02\/05\/2010
\n\t\t\t21
\n\t\t1\/10\/2010
\n\t\t\t20
\n\t\t12\/20\/2009
\n\t\t\t21
\n\t\t8\/31\/2009
\n\t\t\t22
\n\t\t6\/12\/2009
\n\t\t\t23
\n\t\t12\/21\/2008
\n\t\t\t25
\n\t\t10\/15\/2008
\n\t\t\t24
\n\t\t10\/13\/2008
\n\t\t\t24
\n\t\t07\/09\/2007
\n\t\t\t24
\n\t\t01\/09\/2007
\n\t\t\t28
\n\t\t10\/08\/2006
\n\t\t\t29
\n\t\t9\/15\/2006
\n\t\t\t30
\n\t\t02\/05\/2006
\n\t\t\t31
\n\t\t1\/20\/2006
\n\t\t\t33
\n\t\t01\/06\/2006
\n\t\t\t32
\n\t\t12\/02\/2005
\n\t\t\t32
\n\t\t9\/11\/2005
\n\t\t\t31
\n\t\t09\/09\/2005
\n\t\t\t30
\n\t\t6\/19\/2005
\n\t\t\t35
\n\t\t10\/15\/2004
\n\t\t\t39
\n\t\t7\/15\/2004
\n\t\t\t41
\n\t\t3\/21\/2004
\n\t\t\t38
\n\t\t10\/26\/2003
\n\t\t\t36
\n\t\t7\/27\/2003
\n\t\t\t43
\n\t\t10\/15\/2002
\n\t\t\t46
\n\t\t09\/04\/2002
\n\t\t\t46
\n\t\t09\/02\/2002
\n\t\t\t40
\n\t\t7\/13\/2002
\n\t\t\t40
\n\t\t6\/17\/2002
\n\t\t\t43
\n\t\t1\/24\/2002
\n\t\t\t46
\n\t\t12\/07\/2001
\n\t\t\t49
\n\t\t10\/25\/2001
\n\t\t\t54
\n\t\t10\/06\/2001
\n\t\t\t49
\n\t\t1\/17\/2001
\n\t\t\t44
\n\t\t10\/31\/2000
\n\t\t\t38
\n\t\t10\/15\/2000
\n\t\t\t42
\n\t\t07\/09\/2000
\n\t\t\t39
\n\t\t04\/02\/2000
\n\t\t\t38
\n\t\t2\/14\/2000
\n\t\t\t34
\n\t\t10\/03\/1999
\n\t\t\t36
\n\t\t9\/14\/1999
\n\t\t\t33
\n\t\t5\/16\/1999
\n\t\t\t33
\n\t\t2\/21\/1999
\n\t\t\t31
\n\t\t2\/12\/1999
\n\t\t\t32
\n\t\t02\/04\/1999
\n\t\t\t34
\n\t\t1\/10\/1999
\n\t\t\t34
\n\t\t01\/03\/1999
\n\t\t\t37
\n\t\t12\/01\/1998
\n\t\t\t33
\n\t\t11\/15\/1998
\n\t\t\t30
\n\t\t11\/01\/1998
\n\t\t\t26
\n\t\t10\/26\/1998
\n\t\t\t28
\n\t\t8\/10\/1998
\n\t\t\t31
\n\t\t2\/22\/1998
\n\t\t\t35
\n\t\t02\/01\/1998
\n\t\t\t33
\n\t\t1\/25\/1998
\n\t\t\t32
\n\t\t1\/19\/1998
\n\t\t\t32
\n\t\t10\/31\/1997
\n\t\t\t31
\n\t\t8\/27\/1997
\n\t\t\t31
\n\t\t06\/01\/1997
\n\t\t\t26
\n\t\t1\/14\/1997
\n\t\t\t27
\n\t\t11\/02\/1996
\n\t\t\t27
\n\t\t10\/15\/1996
\n\t\t\t28
\n\t\t5\/12\/1996
\n\t\t\t31
\n\t\t05\/06\/1996
\n\t\t\t29
\n\t\t11\/19\/1995
\n\t\t\t27
\n\t\t08\/07\/1995
\n\t\t\t22
\n\t\t08\/05\/1995
\n\t\t\t21
\n\t\t3\/19\/1995
\n\t\t\t20
\n\t\t2\/22\/1995
\n\t\t\t21
\n\t\t12\/01\/1994
\n\t\t\t21
\n\t\t10\/29\/1994
\n\t\t\t22
\n\t\t10\/23\/1994
\n\t\t\t20
\n\t\t06\/06\/1994
\n\t\t\t19
\n\t\t1\/30\/1994
\n\t\t\t20
\n\t\t1\/20\/1994
\n\t\t\t22
\n\t\t3\/24\/1993
\n\t\t\t25
\n\t\t1\/17\/1993
\n\t\t\t25
\n\t\t1\/14\/1993
\n\t\t\t25
\n\t\t10\/23\/1992
\n\t\t\t25
\n\t\t10\/15\/1992
\n\t\t\t25
\n\t\t06\/08\/1992
\n\t\t\t29
\n\t\t10\/20\/1991
\n\t\t\t35
\n\t\t03\/06\/1991
\n\t\t\t42
\n\t\t03\/01\/1991
\n\t\t\t46
\n\t\t1\/27\/1991
\n\t\t\t40
\n\t\t12\/01\/1990
\n\t\t\t33
\n\t\t10\/28\/1990
\n\t\t\t32
\n\t\t09\/06\/1990
\n\t\t\t35
\n\t\t1\/16\/1990
\n\t\t\t38
\n\t\t6\/29\/1989
\n\t\t\t39
\n\t\t1\/15\/1989
\n\t\t\t41
\n\t\t11\/10\/1988
\n\t\t\t43
\n\t\t10\/15\/1988
\n\t\t\t41
\n\t\t1\/23\/1988
\n\t\t\t40
\n\t\t10\/18\/1987
\n\t\t\t43
\n\t\t06\/01\/1987
\n\t\t\t43
\n\t\t03\/01\/1987
\n\t\t\t44
\n\t\t1\/21\/1987
\n\t\t\t43
\n\t\t1\/19\/1987
\n\t\t\t42
\n\t\t12\/01\/1986
\n\t\t\t44
\n\t\t11\/30\/1986
\n\t\t\t43
\n\t\t09\/09\/1986
\n\t\t\t44
\n\t\t1\/19\/1986
\n\t\t\t44
\n\t\t11\/06\/1985
\n\t\t\t43
\n\t\t7\/29\/1985
\n\t\t\t42
\n\t\t3\/21\/1985
\n\t\t\t40
\n\t\t2\/27\/1985
\n\t\t\t42
\n\t\t2\/22\/1985
\n\t\t\t45
\n\t\t11\/14\/1984
\n\t\t\t44
\n\t\t10\/15\/1984
\n\t\t\t41
\n\t\t12\/01\/1982
\n\t\t\t39
\n\t\t11\/07\/1980
\n\t\t\t32
\n\t\t10\/15\/1980
\n\t\t\t30
\n\t\t3\/12\/1980
\n\t\t\t27
\n\t\t11\/03\/1979
\n\t\t\t28
\n\t\t12\/01\/1978
\n\t\t\t31
\n\t\t10\/23\/1977
\n\t\t\t32
\n\t\t4\/25\/1977
\n\t\t\t34
\n\t\t10\/15\/1976
\n\t\t\t36
\n\t\t09\/05\/1976
\n\t\t\t35
\n\t\t6\/15\/1976
\n\t\t\t35
\n\t\t03\/01\/1976
\n\t\t\t34
\n\t\t02\/08\/1976
\n\t\t\t35
\n\t\t12\/01\/1974
\n\t\t\t36
\n\t\t10\/15\/1972
\n\t\t\t53
\n\t\t12\/01\/1970
\n\t\t\t54
\n\t\t10\/15\/1968
\n\t\t\t62
\n\t\t12\/01\/1966
\n\t\t\t65
\n\t\t10\/15\/1964
\n\t\t\t77
\n\t\t12\/01\/1958
\n\t\t\t73<\/p>\n

Temporary Surges During National Crises<\/h2>\n

Although the long-term trend is downward, trust has occasionally rebounded during moments of national unity. After the 9\/11 attacks, trust jumped from 44% to 54% in a matter of months. It was one of the last times a majority expressed confidence in Washington.<\/p>\n

Similar, though smaller, increases occurred during other crises. In early 2020, trust briefly rose to 24% amid the COVID-19 outbreak. However, these bumps have proven short-lived, with trust quickly returning to lower levels.<\/p>\n

A New Era of Persistent Low Trust<\/h2>\n

Since the mid-2000s, trust in government has rarely crossed the 30% mark. In the 2010s and early 2020s, it often dipped below 20%.<\/p>\n

As of September 2025, just 17% of Americans say they trust the federal government most of the time \u2014 near the lowest level recorded in Pew\u2019s time series.<\/p>\n

If you enjoyed today\u2019s post, check out\u00a0America\u2019s Growing Mountain of Debt<\/a>\u00a0on\u00a0Voronoi<\/strong>, the new app from Visual Capitalist.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Tyler Durden<\/a><\/span>
\nMon, 03\/02\/2026 – 07:20<\/span><\/p>\n

\u200bhttps:\/\/www.zerohedge.com\/political\/trust-us-government-has-plunged-77-17<\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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