The facts
Pew Research has tracked public trust in the federal government since 1958, when about three-quarters of Americans said they trusted Washington to do the right thing.
Measured trust has fallen sharply over the decades and has mostly stayed below 30% since the mid-2000s, with swings tied to events and which party holds power.
Trust varies by which institution is asked about — the military and local government often rate higher than Congress or federal agencies.
Understand the issue
Civics quick read
Glossary
Trust In Government
It's a measure of how many Americans believe Washington will generally do the right thing.
Glossary
Federal Government
It's the national government in Washington — the president, Congress, the courts and the agencies they oversee
Civics
Why do Americans say they don't trust the federal government?
Public confidence in Washington has fallen from roughly three-quarters of Americans in 1958 to under a third today, with fluctuations tied to events and partisan control.
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Do you trust the federal government?
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