Americans’ confidence in their government is waning, while frustrations continue to grow. In the latest Pew Research Center survey of American attitudes toward government, only four percent of respondents said they felt the American government was working “extremely well ” or “very well.” Nearly two-thirds of respondents said they had “not too much” or “no confidence” in the government’s ability to help solve their problems.

The more cynical Americans become about their governments’ willingness or ability to confront critical issues, the harder it is for governments to garner support for proposed solutions. Consequently, government officials can lose confidence in their own efforts or ability to effect meaningful change. This creates a reluctance to innovate or advocate reforms, leading to burnout and understaffing across public sector organizations.