US News
Mistrust in federal data expands across key public issues
A majority of Americans doubt federal information across several policy domains, according to Associated Press.
The short version
- Most Americans now express little or no trust in federal data regarding elections, foreign affairs, and the environment.[Associated Press]
- Confidence in official election result certifications dropped to 34%, falling from 40% in 2024.[Associated Press]
- Skepticism toward federal education statistics jumped to 53%, up from 37% recorded in 2019.[Associated Press]
- Data quality faces uncertainty as departures and terminations have cut the ranks of government statisticians.[Associated Press]
Key facts
- Majorities of surveyed Americans report having little to no trust in federal information covering elections, foreign policy, and the environment.[Associated Press]
- Only 34% of U.S. adults trust government election result certifications a great deal or quite a bit, down from 40% in 2024.[Associated Press]
- Distrust in federal education statistics rose to 53%, up from 37% in 2019 following a 9-percentage-point increase over the past year.[Associated Press]
- The AP-NORC and USA Facts poll surveyed 1,036 adults from July 29 to August 10, carrying a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 4.1 percentage points.[Associated Press]
What remains uncertain
- The extent to which data accuracy has been impaired remains unquantified after thousands of federal staff departures reduced the statistical workforce.[Associated Press]
Sources
Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.
- Mistrust of US government information is rising across major issues, new poll showsAssociated Press · Wire: associated-press