Public trust in federal government remains low

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May 16, 2021

Americans See Broad Responsibilities for Government; Little Change Since 2019

Public trust in federal government remains low

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Public trust in federal government remains low

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Americans See Broad Responsibilities for Government; Little Change Since 2019
Large majorities say federal government has responsibility for providing clean air and water, high-quality K-12 education
Wide partisan divides on government responsibilities, especially providing health insurance for all
Slight decline in share of public saying government should do more to solve problems
A higher share of Americans say they feel ‘basically content’ with the federal government, as fewer express anger
Views of government responsibilities little changed since 2019, except for access to high-speed internet
Young adults more likely than older people to say federal government has responsibilities in several areas, including providing college education for all
Demographic differences, especially among Republicans, in views of government responsibilities
Trust in government has fluctuated, but no more than about a third of Democrats or Republicans have expressed trust in government in more than a decade
After Biden’s election, the share of Democrats ‘basically content’ with government reaches two-decade high; more Republicans are ‘angry’ at federal government
Black, Hispanic and Asian adults more likely to say government should do more
Modest overall change in confidence in the future of U.S. since 2020, but partisans’ views shift

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ABOUT PEW RESEARCH CENTER Pew Research Center is a nonpartisan fact tank that informs the public about the issues, attitudes and trends shaping the world. It conducts public opinion polling, demographic research, media content analysis and other empirical social science research. Pew Research Center does not take policy positions. It is a subsidiary of The Pew Charitable Trusts.

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