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Charted: Trust in the U.S. Government Fell From 77% to 17%

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Trust in the U.S. Government Fell From 77% to 17%

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Key Takeaways

  • Public trust in the U.S. federal government fell from 77% in 1964 to 17% in 2025, according to Pew Research.
  • Trust has rarely topped 30% since the early 2000s, with brief spikes during national crises like 9/11.

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 above 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.

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America