Public trust in government remains low.
In 2025, 33% of Americans say they trust the federal government. That is roughly the same amount as in 2022 after a decline in 2024.
How much do you trust the federal government?
Question was asked on a scale of 0 to 10. “Do not trust” includes answers from 0 to 4. “Neutral” includes answers of 5. “Trust” includes answers from 6 to 10.
Data Source: 2025 Source: Partnership for Public Service Survey of 800 adults from Mar. 31 to Apr. 6, 2025 (no link available yet)
2024 Source: Partnership for Public Service survey of 800 U.S. adults from Mar. 25 to Apr. 1, 2024.
2023 Source: The Partnership did not conduct a national survey in 2023.
2022 Source: Partnership for Public Service survey of 800 U.S. adults from Nov. 29 to Dec. 6, 2022.
Trust by various demographics.
In 2025, more Republicans say they trust the government than Democrats or independents. The differences between other demographic groups are smaller.
How much do you trust the federal government?
Question was asked on a scale of 0 to 10. “Do not trust” includes answers from 0 to 4. “Neutral” includes answers of 5. “Trust” includes answers from 6 to 10.
Data Source: Partnership for Public Service Survey of 800 adults from Mar. 31 to Apr. 6, 2025 (no link available yet)
Negative perceptions about government and its impact persist.
Two-thirds of Americans say the government is corrupt. While the majority say the federal government is wasteful (61%), that is down dramatically from the previous year (85%).
The federal government ...
Data Source: 2025 Source: Partnership for Public Service Survey of 800 adults from Mar. 31 to Apr. 6, 2025 (no link available yet)
2024 Source: Partnership for Public Service survey of 800 U.S. adults from Mar. 25 to Apr. 1, 2024.
2023 Source: The Partnership did not conduct a national survey in 2023.
2022 Source: Partnership for Public Service survey of 800 U.S. adults from Nov. 29 to Dec. 6, 2022.
Americans across the partisan divide believe an effective government is important to a strong democracy.
Government’s role in democracy
Data Source: 2025 Source: Partnership for Public Service Survey of 800 adults from Mar. 31 to Apr. 6, 2025 (no link available yet)
Civil servants continue to be viewed more favorably than the federal government as a whole.
This has been consistently true since we started conducting surveys in 2021. In 2025, the majority of Americans say federal civil servants are competent, are committed to helping “people like me” and can be trusted to serve leaders of both political parties.
Most federal civil servants ...
*Question was not asked in 2021.
Data Source: 2025 Source: Partnership for Public Service Survey of 800 adults from Mar. 31 to Apr. 6, 2025 (no link available yet)
2024 Source: Partnership for Public Service survey of 800 U.S. adults from Mar. 25 to Apr. 1, 2024.
2023 Source: The Partnership did not conduct a national survey in 2023.
2022 Source: Partnership for Public Service survey of 800 U.S. adults from Nov. 29 to Dec. 6, 2022.