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Low trust in federal government across Americans’ engagement levels

Low trust in federal government across Americans’ engagement levels
% of U.S. adults in each engagement group who say they think they can trust the federal government to do what is right just about always/most of the time
Chart
Note: Engagement groups are based on a cluster analysis that sorted Americans into four groups based on their responses to 19 questions about political activity, civic involvement, religious attendance and attention to news.
Source: Pew Research Center survey of U.S. adults conducted Sept. 8-14, 2025.
“How Americans Are Engaged With News, Politics, Religion and Civic Life”
PEW-KNIGHT INITIATIVE
Low trust in federal government across Americans’ engagement levels
% of U.S. adults in each engagement group who say they think they can trust the federal government to do what is right just about always/most of the time
Percentage
Mobilizers22
Connectors20
Spectators19
Outsiders17
Download data as .csv
Note: Engagement groups are based on a cluster analysis that sorted Americans into four groups based on their responses to 19 questions about political activity, civic involvement, religious attendance and attention to news.
Source: Pew Research Center survey of U.S. adults conducted Sept. 8-14, 2025.
“How Americans Are Engaged With News, Politics, Religion and Civic Life”
PEW-KNIGHT INITIATIVE
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