How is trust in the federal government measured?

What pollsters actually ask

The standard trust question, used by Pew Research and the American National Election Studies, asks how often respondents trust the federal government in Washington to do what is right — just about always, most of the time, only some of the time, or never. Analysts typically combine the first two answers to produce a single trust figure.

A long downward slope

When the question was first asked in 1958, about three-quarters of Americans said they trusted the federal government most of the time or more. Trust fell sharply during the Vietnam War and Watergate, recovered briefly in the 1980s and again after the September 11, 2001 attacks, then declined again. Since the mid-2000s, the figure has mostly stayed below 30%, hitting single digits in some surveys.

Why the number moves

Trust scores tend to rise during national rallying moments and fall during wars, scandals, recessions, and periods of partisan conflict. They also move with partisanship: voters from the president's party generally report higher trust, while voters from the opposing party report lower trust. That pattern means the same person's answer can change depending on who is in office.

Not all institutions are equal

"The federal government" is a broad target. When pollsters such as Gallup ask about specific institutions, the military, the U.S. Postal Service, and local government often score higher in public confidence, while Congress and many federal agencies score lower. The presidency and the Supreme Court tend to fall in between and shift with current controversies.

How observers interpret the trend

Commentators disagree on what falling trust means. Some argue it reflects real problems — gridlock, policy failures, or perceived overreach — and is a signal that government should change course or shrink. Others argue the decline reflects rising polarization, fragmented media, and higher expectations, and warn that low trust can make it harder for any administration to govern, respond to crises, or implement laws.

What to keep in mind as a respondent

Survey answers about "the federal government" capture a general feeling more than a verdict on any single agency or law. Your own answer may depend on whether you are thinking about elected officials, career civil servants, the courts, or specific programs you interact with — and on whether you weigh recent headlines or long-term performance.