Record low confidence among young Americans in federal government

According to a Harvard Youth Poll released this spring, confidence in the federal government among Americans under 30 has fallen to a record 15%, the lowest point since the poll's inception in 2000. Half of those surveyed feel excluded from political decision-making, and many doubt that the November midterms will be conducted fairly, which reduces their likelihood of voting. Despite this cynicism, more than half say they are extremely likely to cast a ballot, though only 12% feel motivated to participate.

Experts attribute the disengagement to a sense that politicians are self-serving and unresponsive to issues like AI-driven job loss and the war in Iran. Campus groups report steady interest in elections but also a pervasive feeling that individual votes lack impact, underscoring a broader crisis of trust among the younger electorate.