Restoring Public Trust in Government Through Transparency and Reform

Public trust in government has collapsed, creating a crisis of legitimacy in our democracy. According to Gallup, only 20% of Americans trust the federal government—down from 73% in the 1960s. This erosion has fueled political extremism, disengagement, and belief in conspiracy theories. I’m urging my representation in Congress to address the root causes of American distrust in the government.   Systemic Issues That Undermine Trust • Money in Politics – Since Citizens United (2010), billionaires and corporations have poured unlimited dark money into elections, making people feel their votes don’t matter. • Gerrymandering and Election Manipulation – 90% of House districts are drawn in a way that makes elections uncompetitive (Brennan Center for Justice). • Congressional Ethics Issues – More than half of Congress members are millionaires, and insider trading remains largely unpunished (OpenSecrets).   Key Reforms to Restore Public Trust 1. Campaign Finance Reform – End dark money in politics and impose strict limits on corporate and billionaire donations. 2. Fair Election Districting – Support independent redistricting commissions to prevent partisan gerrymandering. 3. Congressional Ethics Rules – Ban stock trading by members of Congress to eliminate conflicts of interest. 4. Civic Education Investment – Expand civics and media literacy education to combat political disinformation.   The American people deserve a government that is transparent, accountable, and responsive to citizens—not special interests. I urge you to take meaningful steps to rebuild trust in our institutions.