Who Does America Trust? Congress Ranks Last

The 2026 Census Bureau's Household Trends and Outlook Pulse Survey (HTOPS) asked Americans how much confidence they have in nine major institutions. The results reveal a nation that trusts its data collectors far more than its lawmakers.

The Rankings

The U.S. Census Bureau tops the list at 70.7% — meaning more than seven in ten Americans have "a great deal" or "quite a lot" of confidence in the agency. The Military follows at 65.1%, and U.S. Statistical Agencies broadly come in at 62.3%.

At the bottom? Congress, at just 17.9%. Fewer than one in five Americans have high confidence in the legislative branch. A staggering 41.7% say they have "very little" confidence — the highest disapproval of any institution measured.

The full ranking:

1. U.S. Census Bureau — 70.7%

2. The Military — 65.1%

3. U.S. Statistical Agencies — 62.3%

4. The Police — 53.4%

5. Public Schools — 46.8%

6. U.S. Supreme Court — 34.5%

7. Criminal Justice System — 31.8%

8. The Presidency — 27.5%

9. Congress — 17.9%

The Age Factor

Do younger Americans trust institutions less? The data says: it depends on the institution.

For the Census Bureau, trust increases with age but stays high across the board: 61.7% for ages 18-29, rising to 77.9% for those 75+. The pattern is similar for the Military — younger adults are less trusting (52.5% for 18-29) but the gap isn't as dramatic as you might expect.

For the Police, the age gap is enormous. Only 33.6% of Americans aged 18-29 have high confidence in police, compared to 73.9% of those 75 and older. That's a 40-point spread — the largest age gap of any institution.

Congress is universally distrusted regardless of age. The range runs from 15.1% (75+) to 19.9% (45-59) — nobody likes Congress, young or old.

The Income Divide

Does money buy trust? For most institutions, higher income correlates with slightly higher trust. Census Bureau trust ranges from 65.9% (under $25K) to 79.1% ($150K+). Military trust shows a similar but smaller gradient.

But Congress breaks the pattern entirely. Americans earning under $25K actually show the highest Congressional trust at 29.8% — nearly double the rate of those earning $100K-$150K (13.7%). One interpretation: lower-income Americans may look to government for more direct assistance and thus maintain relatively more faith in the institution. Higher-income Americans, who interact more with the tax code and regulatory apparatus, may be more cynical.

The Education Pattern

Education amplifies trust in data-producing institutions. Trust in the Census Bureau jumps from 57.6% among those with less than a high school education to 86.1% for graduate degree holders. Trust in federal statistics follows the same curve: 57.1% for the lowest education bracket to 86.1% for the highest.

For Congress, education barely moves the needle. No education bracket exceeds 20% high trust.

The Meta Finding

Here's the most interesting takeaway: Americans trust the Census Bureau that produces this data more than almost any other institution. The agency that surveys the public about institutional trust is itself the most trusted institution. That's either deeply reassuring about data quality — or a fascinating paradox about who we choose to believe.

The 70.7% trust in the Census Bureau also lends credibility to the survey itself. When seven in ten respondents trust the messenger, the message carries more weight.

Meanwhile, Congress sits at 17.9% and falling. In a democracy, the institution designed to represent the people is the one the people trust least. That gap between the Census Bureau (data) and Congress (power) may be the most telling number in the entire survey.

*Explore the full trust rankings with demographic breakdowns on our Trust page. See who lobbies Congress at theailobby.com.*

Data source: U.S. Census Bureau HTOPS, March 2026.