Confidence in U.S. Institutions Remains Near All-Time Low

Americans' average confidence in 14 core institutions stands at 27%, one point above the all-time low recorded in 2023, and has remained below 30% for five consecutive years. Twelve of the 14 tracked institutions are at or near their historical lows, with confidence in Big Tech hitting a new record low of 20%, down from 32% in 2020. The partisan gap in institutional confidence has reached a record high, with Republicans now 13 points more confident than Democrats, driven by Democrats expressing historically low trust under Trump's second term. Small business remains the outlier with 67% confidence, while Congress, the medical system, and banks show smaller partisan divides. Past downturns have eventually reversed, but recoveries have never fully restored prior confidence levels, meaning each trough sets a new baseline lower than the last.