Americans See Government Corruption at Record High

Americans’ perception of widespread government corruption in the U.S. has reached its highest point in two decades, according to a recent Gallup poll. The survey, conducted between May 1 and June 10, 2026, found that 89% of U.S. adults believe corruption is prevalent throughout the government. This figure marks a 10-percentage-point increase from last year and surpasses the 72% to 79% range observed between 2010 and 2025.

A Unified Concern

The 89% figure is the highest recorded since Gallup began tracking this metric in 2006, when 59% of Americans held this view. This consistent upward trend indicates a growing distrust in federal institutions across the nation.

The broad consensus on corruption is notable, with strong majorities across the political spectrum expressing concern. This sentiment could influence upcoming policy debates and public spending initiatives, creating a volatile environment for sectors tied to government contracts or regulation.

Party Lines Blur, Sort Of

While the overall perception is high, the increase has been most pronounced among Democrats and Independents. Democrats’ belief in widespread corruption surged to 91% in 2026, up from 57% in 2024 (the final year of former President Joe Biden’s term) and 76% in 2025 (the first year of President Donald Trump’s second term).

Independents also showed a significant increase, with 90% now perceiving widespread corruption, a 12-point jump from 2024. Republicans’ views have remained more stable, with 83% agreeing, consistent with the roughly eight in ten who have held this view over the past two years. This suggests that while Republicans maintain a consistent underlying view, Democrats’ perceptions are more closely tied to which party controls the administration.

Global Outlier

The U.S. now stands out among advanced economies. Gallup’s polling across the 38 member countries of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) shows that the median level of perceived corruption among OECD nations has actually fallen since 2009.

In 2025, the U.S. already ranked highest in perceived corruption among OECD countries, with a 20-point gap between U.S. perceptions and the OECD median. This divergence highlights a unique challenge for the U.S. in maintaining public confidence compared to its global peers.

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Business vs. Government Trust

The poll also compared perceptions of corruption in government versus businesses. While concerns about business corruption have increased to 71% in 2026, the 18-point gap between government and business corruption is the largest recorded in Gallup’s trend.

This indicates that Americans view government institutions as significantly more compromised than private enterprises. Such a sentiment could lead to increased scrutiny on government-backed projects and a potential shift in public trust towards the private sector for solutions.

Options market and stocks to watch

Declining trust in government can have tangible market implications, particularly for sectors heavily reliant on federal policy or spending. Watch for increased volatility in:

• LHX, RTX, LMT: Defense contractors could face heightened scrutiny on contracts and spending.
• CAT, X: Infrastructure and construction companies might see increased public and political oversight on large-scale projects.
• JPM, GOOGL, META: Heavily regulated industries could experience greater policy uncertainty and calls for stricter oversight.

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