Over the past seven decades, Americans
’ trust in the federal government has dropped from postwar highs to historic lows.
In 1964, 77% said they trusted Washington to do what is right most of the time.
As of September 2025, that figure stands at just 17%.
The chart below, via Visual Capitalist’s Niccolo Conte, tracks this long-term shift, using data from Pew Research Center.
While trust has occasionally surged during moments of national crisis, the broader trajectory shows a steady erosion across generations.
From Postwar Highs to Vietnam-Era Decline
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.
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 Watergate.
The Vietnam War, political scandals, and economic turbulence reshaped public opinion for decades to come.
| Date |
Trust the government (%) |
| 9/28/2025 |
17 |
| 2/9/2025 |
19 |
| 5/19/2024 |
18 |
| 6/11/2023 |
19 |
| 05/01/2022 |
20 |
| 4/11/2021 |
21 |
| 8/2/2020 |
24 |
| 4/12/2020 |
21 |
| 3/25/2019 |
17 |
| 12/04/2017 |
18 |
| 4/11/2017 |
19 |
| 10/04/2015 |
18 |
| 7/20/2014 |
19 |
| 2/26/2014 |
18 |
| 11/15/2013 |
20 |
| 10/13/2013 |
19 |
| 5/31/2013 |
20 |
| 02/06/2013 |
22 |
| 1/13/2013 |
23 |
| 10/31/2012 |
19 |
| 10/19/2011 |
17 |
| 10/04/2011 |
15 |
| 9/23/2011 |
18 |
| 8/21/2011 |
21 |
| 2/28/2011 |
23 |
| 10/21/2010 |
23 |
| 10/01/2010 |
21 |
| 09/06/2010 |
23 |
| 09/01/2010 |
23 |
| 04/05/2010 |
23 |
| 04/05/2010 |
22 |
| 3/21/2010 |
24 |
| 2/12/2010 |
22 |
| 02/05/2010 |
21 |
| 1/10/2010 |
20 |
| 12/20/2009 |
21 |
| 8/31/2009 |
22 |
| 6/12/2009 |
23 |
| 12/21/2008 |
25 |
| 10/15/2008 |
24 |
| 10/13/2008 |
24 |
| 07/09/2007 |
24 |
| 01/09/2007 |
28 |
| 10/08/2006 |
29 |
| 9/15/2006 |
30 |
| 02/05/2006 |
31 |
| 1/20/2006 |
33 |
| 01/06/2006 |
32 |
| 12/02/2005 |
32 |
| 9/11/2005 |
31 |
| 09/09/2005 |
30 |
| 6/19/2005 |
35 |
| 10/15/2004 |
39 |
| 7/15/2004 |
41 |
| 3/21/2004 |
38 |
| 10/26/2003 |
36 |
| 7/27/2003 |
43 |
| 10/15/2002 |
46 |
| 09/04/2002 |
46 |
| 09/02/2002 |
40 |
| 7/13/2002 |
40 |
| 6/17/2002 |
43 |
| 1/24/2002 |
46 |
| 12/07/2001 |
49 |
| 10/25/2001 |
54 |
| 10/06/2001 |
49 |
| 1/17/2001 |
44 |
| 10/31/2000 |
38 |
| 10/15/2000 |
42 |
| 07/09/2000 |
39 |
| 04/02/2000 |
38 |
| 2/14/2000 |
34 |
| 10/03/1999 |
36 |
| 9/14/1999 |
33 |
| 5/16/1999 |
33 |
| 2/21/1999 |
31 |
| 2/12/1999 |
32 |
| 02/04/1999 |
34 |
| 1/10/1999 |
34 |
| 01/03/1999 |
37 |
| 12/01/1998 |
33 |
| 11/15/1998 |
30 |
| 11/01/1998 |
26 |
| 10/26/1998 |
28 |
| 8/10/1998 |
31 |
| 2/22/1998 |
35 |
| 02/01/1998 |
33 |
| 1/25/1998 |
32 |
| 1/19/1998 |
32 |
| 10/31/1997 |
31 |
| 8/27/1997 |
31 |
| 06/01/1997 |
26 |
| 1/14/1997 |
27 |
| 11/02/1996 |
27 |
| 10/15/1996 |
28 |
| 5/12/1996 |
31 |
| 05/06/1996 |
29 |
| 11/19/1995 |
27 |
| 08/07/1995 |
22 |
| 08/05/1995 |
21 |
| 3/19/1995 |
20 |
| 2/22/1995 |
21 |
| 12/01/1994 |
21 |
| 10/29/1994 |
22 |
| 10/23/1994 |
20 |
| 06/06/1994 |
19 |
| 1/30/1994 |
20 |
| 1/20/1994 |
22 |
| 3/24/1993 |
25 |
| 1/17/1993 |
25 |
| 1/14/1993 |
25 |
| 10/23/1992 |
25 |
| 10/15/1992 |
25 |
| 06/08/1992 |
29 |
| 10/20/1991 |
35 |
| 03/06/1991 |
42 |
| 03/01/1991 |
46 |
| 1/27/1991 |
40 |
| 12/01/1990 |
33 |
| 10/28/1990 |
32 |
| 09/06/1990 |
35 |
| 1/16/1990 |
38 |
| 6/29/1989 |
39 |
| 1/15/1989 |
41 |
| 11/10/1988 |
43 |
| 10/15/1988 |
41 |
| 1/23/1988 |
40 |
| 10/18/1987 |
43 |
| 06/01/1987 |
43 |
| 03/01/1987 |
44 |
| 1/21/1987 |
43 |
| 1/19/1987 |
42 |
| 12/01/1986 |
44 |
| 11/30/1986 |
43 |
| 09/09/1986 |
44 |
| 1/19/1986 |
44 |
| 11/06/1985 |
43 |
| 7/29/1985 |
42 |
| 3/21/1985 |
40 |
| 2/27/1985 |
42 |
| 2/22/1985 |
45 |
| 11/14/1984 |
44 |
| 10/15/1984 |
41 |
| 12/01/1982 |
39 |
| 11/07/1980 |
32 |
| 10/15/1980 |
30 |
| 3/12/1980 |
27 |
| 11/03/1979 |
28 |
| 12/01/1978 |
31 |
| 10/23/1977 |
32 |
| 4/25/1977 |
34 |
| 10/15/1976 |
36 |
| 09/05/1976 |
35 |
| 6/15/1976 |
35 |
| 03/01/1976 |
34 |
| 02/08/1976 |
35 |
| 12/01/1974 |
36 |
| 10/15/1972 |
53 |
| 12/01/1970 |
54 |
| 10/15/1968 |
62 |
| 12/01/1966 |
65 |
| 10/15/1964 |
77 |
| 12/01/1958 |
73 |
Temporary Surges During National Crises
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.
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.
A New Era of Persistent Low Trust
Since the mid-2000s, trust in government has rarely crossed the 30% mark. In the 2010s and early 2020s, it often dipped below 20%.
As of September 2025, just 17% of Americans say they trust the federal government most of the time — near the lowest level recorded in Pew’s time series.
If you enjoyed today’s post, check out America’s Growing Mountain of Debt on Voronoi, the new app from Visual Capitalist.
— Read on www.zerohedge.com/political/trust-us-government-has-plunged-77-17
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