Americans Lose Faith In Federal Government
A new nationwide survey reveals a dramatic shift in how Americans view Washington under President Donald Trump’s leadership — and the numbers are turning heads.
According to a poll by the Partnership for Public Service, 33% of Americans now say they trust the federal government, a 10-point surge from last year’s low levels. Even more striking, the share of Americans who openly distrust Washington plunged from 63% in 2024 to just 47% today.
The boost is fueled largely by Republicans. Under Trump, GOP confidence in the federal government has more than quadrupled — from a meager 10% last year to 42% now. Among Republican voters under age 50, trust has rocketed to 52%, up from just 28% in 2024. Democrats, meanwhile, are going the other way: only 31% now trust the federal government, down eight points from last year.
Even with the improvement, Americans remain deeply skeptical of Washington’s ethics and spending habits. A commanding 67% believe the federal government is “corrupt”, and 61% say it’s “wasteful” — though that’s down from a staggering 85% in 2024.
When asked about the government’s overall impact, 45% said Washington is hurting the country, while 42% said it has a positive influence.
The survey — conducted March 31 to April 6 among 800 adults with a margin of error of 3.5 points — underscores a long-standing trend: trust rises when a voter’s preferred party holds the White House. Under President Trump, Republicans are showing a renewed faith in the system, while Democrats are increasingly disillusioned.
Bottom line: Confidence is climbing, but Washington still has a long way to go to win over the American people — and corruption remains the top concern.
