---
title: "A Majority of Americans Frustrated with the Federal Government"
description: "About six-in-ten Americans say they are frustrated with the federal government, continuing a 15-year pattern."
date: "2013-02-25"
authors:
  - name: "Pew Research Center"
url: "https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2013/02/25/a-majority-of-americans-frustrated-with-the-federal-government/"
---

# A Majority of Americans Frustrated with the Federal Government

Since 1997, only once has a majority of Americans said they were “basically content” with the federal government – in November 2001, two months after the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

Over this 15-year period, majorities have consistently said they are frustrated with government, with smaller percentages expressing anger. The percentage saying they are angry at the government reached a high of 26% in August 2011, following the deal to lift the debt ceiling. Currently, 19% feel angry at government, 58% are frustrated, while 20% are basically content.

Conservative Republicans are more likely to say they are angry at the government: 31% say they are angry, compared with 17% of moderate and liberal Republicans and much smaller percentages of Democrats.

About one-in-five (19%) Americans described themselves as "angry" at the government in a survey conducted in January. Among Republicans, 27% said they were angry compared to 12% of Democrats. The reverse was true in October 2006 when George W. Bush was president – 28% of Democrats said they were angry at government compared to 7% of Republicans. [Read more](www.pewresearch.org/pewresearch-org/politics/2013/01/31/majority-says-the-federal-government-threatens-their-personal-rights/#frustrationwith)

[![](https://assets.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2013/01/1-31-13-6.png)](https://www.pewresearch.org/wp-admin/www.pewresearch.org/pewresearch-org/politics/2013/01/31/majority-says-the-federal-government-threatens-their-personal-rights/#frustrationwith)