Biden Administration Begins the Hard Work of Restoring Trust in Government

 

Extreme Drought Conditions Continue for Much of Western U.S.

The most trusted sources of information historically have been the scientific community and medical professionals. Survey data show that the U.S. public ranks only the military as more trustworthy than these groups, while expressing lower trust in the Federal government.  A new poll released by Axios-Ipsos indicates that since the Inauguration, more people now trust the government to provide them with accurate information about Covid-19.

Overall, 50% of Americans now say they have a “great” or “fair” amount of trust in the government, compared to only 40% trust in the final weeks of the Trump Administration. The rising numbers are “indicative of the switch in government; this is almost entirely based on trust in Biden,” according to pollster Chris Jackson of Ipsos Public Affairs.  A super-majority of Democrats (72%) trust the information now, up from 42%; as do 48% of independents, up from 44%.  Republicans, however, are not on board: just 30% trust the information, down from 34%.

The fact there is a partisan angle to those numbers heightens the need for the Biden Administration to employ a fact-based approach for all Americans.  That’s where the utilization of experts that everyone – regardless of political persuasion – can have faith in is essential.  The White House’s new Covid-19 Response Office will work in conjunction with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and venerable medical institutions such as the Johns Hopkins University to inform and assuage any concerns the public might have. 

Besides the ongoing pandemic, there is another critically important issue that Americans need to trust their government about: sustainability and climate change.  A post-election survey released by Yale and George Mason University reveals that 66% of Americans think developing sources of clean energy should be a “high” or “very high” priority.  Unfortunately, here again there is a partisan split among those numbers with 43% of Republicans holding that opinion, compared to 87% of Democrats.

To address this disparity, the Biden Administration has launched a multi-pronged strategy.  For example, the President’s Council of Advisers on Science and Technology was just re-established by Executive Order, with Biden elevating to Cabinet rank the position of Director of the Office of Science and Technology.   The serious problems facing the United States require decisions be guided by the best available science and data, a process enhanced by the decisions taken thus far by the new Administration.  Advances in taming the pandemic, along with enabling more equitable economic growth and achieving environmental sustainability are high on the list of challenges requiring science and fact-based decision-making.

For too long, some have falsely argued that actions to develop clean, more sustainable energy sources would be net job-killers. But we know that new jobs created by ambitious green economy initiatives will offset jobs lost in the fossil fuel industry.  Many well-paying union jobs could be created in a variety of domestic industries, such as developing electric vehicles and building charging stations.  Developing cleaner sources of energy, including wind and solar power, is key to reducing greenhouse gas emissions.  My electric bill shows that renewable energy sources make up less than 6% of the total source of energy for power plants in southern Maryland! Surely that will change as the cost of alternative energy systems declines and the public health need for environmental controls increases.

President Biden announced another Executive Order committed to hosting a Leaders’ Climate Summit on Earth Day, April 22, 2021.  On the agenda with world leaders will be reviewing possible cooperation around building more sustainable energy sources.   In an effort to restore public confidence in the Federal government, the Biden Administration has taken these steps in conjunction with a pledge to be transparent on matters that affect Americans’ well-being.  Clearly, this is an important part in the process of building back trust in the government’s ability to credibly address these existential problems. 

And, in a welcome display of symbolism, President Biden prominently hung in the Oval Office a portrait of Benjamin Franklin, one of the country’s most science-friendly, early leaders, signaling Biden’s intention to rely on science and facts in his decision making. Franklin’s respect for and leadership on the science issues of the early Republic went beyond his well-known fascination with lightening and electricity.  He co-founded the first hospital in the American colonies, and also supported inoculation to combat the smallpox epidemic then devastating the continent. 

Restoring trust in government will take time after a steady assault on science and fact-based, transparent decision-making over the course of the last four years, but President Biden is off to a strong start.