Americans may still wave the flag, but their faith in Washington has cratered. A new Gallup poll finds approval of the 119th Congress at just 10%—the second lowest on record—while Pew Research reports that only 17% of the public trusts the federal government to do what is right most of the time. That trust level, which stood at 77% in 1964, has been in free fall for decades, with only brief recoveries during the Reagan era and after the 9/11 attacks.
Congressional Approval Plunges Across Party Lines
The numbers are stark. Democratic approval of Congress sits at a mere 3%, while Republican approval has dropped from a high of 63% in March 2025 to 20% today—a slide that began after President Trump announced his reciprocal tariff plan. Independent approval is 11%. By contrast, during Trump’s first term, Republican approval ranged from 20% to 40%, and Democratic approval stayed between 31% and 38%.
The collapse is driven by extreme polarization and a Congress that appears unwilling to challenge the president, undermining the system of checks and balances. As one analyst put it, the party in power has become a rubber stamp, eroding the very foundation of democratic accountability.
Trust in Government at 60-Year Low
Pew’s latest survey reveals that only 2% of Americans say they trust the government “just about always,” and 15% say “most of the time.” That’s a 60-point drop from the 77% peak in 1964. Temporary upticks occurred during the Reagan administration and after Republicans took control of Congress in the 1994 midterms, when trust rose from 20% to 54% by October 2001—largely because Congress pushed back against President Bill Clinton’s overreach, forcing moderation.
Since President Barack Obama took office in 2009, trust has hovered around 20%. The reasons are many: the Affordable Care Act failed to deliver on promises of lower premiums and broader coverage; Obama’s “pen and phone” strategy of unilateral action opened the door for executive overreach by subsequent presidents; the COVID-19 response was widely criticized; and Biden’s big-spending bills fueled inflation.
More recently, Trump’s reciprocal tariffs, false claims about who pays them, and aggressive immigration enforcement—coupled with a costly war—have deepened public disillusionment. Congress has offered little pushback, reinforcing the perception of a broken system.
What Comes Next?
Can approval and trust sink lower? Possibly, if Congress continues to defer to an increasingly unpopular president. But history offers a lesson: in 1994, voters rebelled against a president who overreached, handing control of Congress to the opposition. That pattern could repeat in the 2026 midterms, especially as Senate Republicans grow skeptical of controversial Pentagon leadership picks and as polls show a majority view Trump’s immigration enforcement as excessively aggressive.
The public’s patience is wearing thin. Whether Washington can restore trust before the next election remains an open question, but the numbers suggest voters are ready for change.
Merrill Matthews is the Texas state chair of Our Republican Legacy.
