Key facts
- A new poll shows a significant increase in public distrust of federal government information on key issues like elections, foreign affairs, and the environment.
- Trust in government information has become more partisan since Donald Trump's first term, with Democrats' doubts spiking and Republicans' mistrust rising under Biden.
- Only 34% of U.S. adults trust government certifications of election results, a slight decrease from 2024.
- Concerns are widespread about the federal government potentially discrediting or tampering with election results.
- Vaccination recommendations and safety are the only areas where trust levels show little partisan division.
Americans are increasingly skeptical of information provided by the federal government, with majorities now expressing little or no trust in official communications regarding elections, politics, foreign affairs, and the environment. This trend, highlighted by a new poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research and USA Facts, shows a notable increase in mistrust compared to both a few years ago and the end of Donald Trump's first term.
The survey found that only 34% of U.S. adults trust government certifications of election results, a slight decrease from 2024, indicating a politicization of what was once a routine process. Trust in government information has also become more partisan since Trump's first term, with Democrats' doubts spiking and Republicans' mistrust rising under President Biden, while independents' mistrust grew under Biden and has remained steady under Trump.
Nearly 6 in 10 U.S. adults report low trust in federal government information on topics such as the environment, foreign affairs, elections, abortion, and immigration. Mistrust has risen across almost all surveyed topics since 2019, with education seeing a significant 9-percentage point increase in distrust over the past year.
Individuals interviewed expressed their concerns. Shannon Ingram, a Democrat, cited shifting health recommendations as an example of questionable government information. Jeremy Cove, a Republican, trusts the Trump administration on vaccines but disagrees with their stance on climate change. Larry Haith, a Republican, stated he has more confidence in the federal government today than in recent years.
The findings follow a period of significant upheaval in the executive branch, with thousands of federal employees leaving their jobs and concerns raised about data quality. Shifting regulations and recommendations, particularly on health and climate, have also contributed to public skepticism.
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