Americans’ Views of Government: Decades of Distrust, Enduring Support for Its Role
Public rates government positively for its handling of natural disasters, terrorism, food and medicine safety, and workplace standards
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- Americans’ Views of Government: Decades of Distrust, Enduring Support for Its Role
- Low public trust in federal government has persisted for nearly two decades
- Majorities of Americans say federal government does too little to address issues affecting several groups, including lower- and middle-income people, retirees
- Broad public support for the federal government having a ‘major role’ in many different areas
- Prior to leak of Supreme Court’s draft abortion opinion, Democrats expressed greater concern than Republicans that people’s rights could vary by state
- Sharp partisan divide on whether it is government’s job ‘to protect people from themselves’
- More confidence in career govt. workers than in political appointees
- Partisan trust in government shifts along with control of the White House, but remains relatively low within both parties
- Most continue to express frustration – rather than anger or contentment – about the federal government
- About three-in-ten Democrats are ‘basically content’ with federal government, down from 43% in April 2021
- Younger Democrats express less trust in the federal government than their elders
- Many say federal government unfairly benefits some people over others
- Republicans more likely than Democrats to say federal government interferes too much in people’s lives
- Republicans particularly critical of federal government’s responsiveness
- Overwhelming share of Republicans, most Democrats say the government is not careful with taxpayer money
- Many hold the view that the federal government faces more difficult challenges today than in the past
- Similar shares of Republicans and Democrats say people aren’t willing to pay for what they want from government
- More Democrats than Republicans say the government gets too little credit
- Little difference in views of dealing with federal agencies among those who have, have not contacted one recently
- Small majorities say the government does at least a fair amount to protect or restrict personal freedoms
- Among Democrats, wide demographic differences in views of government’s impact on people’s personal freedoms; smaller differences among Republicans
- Republicans now more likely to say government withholds information
- Younger Democrats more likely than older Democrats to say government intentionally withholds information
- Democrats are more likely than Republicans to view govt. performance positively, except on health care and the environment
- Democrats rate the federal government more positively than in 2020; Republicans turn much more critical, especially on government’s handling of economy
- Majorities of Americans say govt. should have ‘major role’ in a number of areas
- Large gaps between the public’s views of the government’s role and its performance
- Wide partisan gaps in views of whether government should play ‘major role’ on poverty, health care, the environment
- Since 2020, sharp declines in shares of Republicans saying government should have ‘major role’ in alleviating poverty, addressing public health
- About half of U.S. adults name at least one issue the federal government is handling poorly
- Many of those who give examples of what the federal government does well point to national security
- U.S. adults name a wide range of issues when asked what their state government is doing well
- About one-in-ten cite infrastructure, education as areas where their state government is doing a bad job
- Views of state, local governments slightly less favorable than in 2019
- Partisans’ views of state governments are closely related to which party controls the state government
- Partisans differ over concerns about the relative role of state and federal governments
- Half of Americans express concern both about states not working with federal govt. and about federal govt. doing too much that should be done at the state level
- Democrats more concerned than Republicans that the rights Americans have may differ from state to state
- Among Democrats, older adults more concerned that rights and protections a person has may very by state
- A small majority of the public says govt. should do more to solve problems
- Younger adults more likely than older people to say that government should do more to solve problems
- Majority of adults say federal government is doing too much for higher-income people, too little for those with lower incomes
- Democrats more likely than Republicans to say government is doing too little to address issues affecting children, parents
- Democrats far more likely than Republicans to say government is doing too little on issues affecting lower-income people
- Republicans more likely than Democrats to say the government is doing ‘too much’ on issues affecting city dwellers
- Black adults more likely to say govt. aid to poor does more good than harm
- Younger, lower-income Reps. have more positive views of govt. aid to the poor
- Republicans more likely than Democrats to say government policies should support religious values
- Confidence in career civil servants has declined in both parties since 2018
- After 2020 election, partisans flip in confidence in presidential appointees
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