Public trust in the U.S. government, judiciary and military has plummeted, placing the country behind most other Group of Seven (G7) nations, according to a new Gallup analysis.
Approximately 68% of Americans lack trust in their national government. Confidence in the Judiciary is at a minimum of 42%.
Even the US military, a traditionally popular institution, saw a drop in public trust, from 90% in 2021 to 81% last year.
The G7 is made up of the major industrial nations: Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States.
Among G7 countries, Germany exhibited the lowest level of public trust in its military, with nearly 60% expressing a lack of confidence.
The American public appears divided over the nation's military budget, even though the United States spends more on its Armed Forces than all other G7 nations combined.
About 35% think the expense is too high, 29% think it is too low, and 33% think it is the right amount.
“There is no irrefutable evidence that explains all of this,” he told the VOA Benedict Vigers, Gallup analyst. “These data seem part of a broader trend among Americans that extends even beyond people's faith in their political institutions.”
Experts link public trust in government institutions to the quality of public service delivery, effective measures against corruption and abuse of power, and progress in combating income and wealth inequality.
“The effectiveness of public institutions depends on the trust that citizens and businesses place in them,” the World Bank said in a report last year.
Public trust in American institutions is declining and extends beyond government agencies.
Trust in churches and organized religion has steadily declined, with a record 30% of Americans expressing “very little” trust last year, the highest number since Gallup began tracking this question in 1973.
The erosion of trust also affects the media: more than 40% of Americans say they have very little trust, especially in newspapers and television.
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