62% of Americans see courage in their own communities; just 30% see it in Washington. Two-thirds say elected officials are less courageous than they were 20 years ago, while 79% say courage from elected leaders is vital to the nation's future.
WASHINGTON, June 24, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- A new national survey from With Honor and Gallup released June 24 finds that Americans have not lost faith in courage. They see it in their neighborhoods, their families, and those who serve. What they have stopped seeing — and what they say has been fading for two decades — is courage in Washington.
k5:G 4=2DDlQ!#}0x>365565pDD6E#676C6?46Q :5lQs:GpDD6E!=246w@=56C`QmkAmk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^>>2]AC?6HDH:C6]4@>^>65:2^ahhh`ag^(:E90w@?@C0p4E:@?0v2==FA0=@8@]9E>=Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Q C6=lQ?@7@==@HQmk^2mk^Amk^5:Gm
kAm%96 (:E9 w@?@C–v2==FA DFCG6J @7 >@C6 E92? b[___ &]$] 25F=ED C6G62=D 2 DEC:<:?8 5:G:56] $:IEJ\EH@ A6C46?E D2J A6@A=6 :? E96:C @H? 4@>>F?:E:6D 56>@?DEC2E6 4@FC286 :? E96:C 24E:@?D] yFDE b_T D2J E96 D2>6 @7 6=64E65 =6256CD – 2 ba\A@:?E 82A] (96? 2D<65 H9:49 8C@FAD E96J >@DE 2DD@4:2E6 H:E9 4@FC286[ p>6C:42?D AFE 7:CDE C6DA@?56CD We_TX 2?5 >:=:E2CJ A6CD@??6= Wc`TX 2E E96 E@A H:E9 6=64E65 =6256CD ?62C E96 3@EE@>]k^Am
kAm*6E E96 DFCG6JVD >@DE DEC:<:?8 7:?5:?8 >2J 36 H92E p>6C:42?D DE:== 28C66 @?] }:?6EJ\D:I A6C46?E D2J :E :D :>A@CE2?E 7@C 6G6CJ52J 4:E:K6?D E@ 24E H:E9 4@FC286j hdT D2J E96 D2>6 @7 6=64E65 @77:4:2=D] (92E >2<6D E96> >@DE @AE:>:DE:4 23@FE p>6C:42VD 7FEFC6n }@E @FC 7C665@>D[ @FC 5:G6CD:EJ[ @C @FC :??@G2E:@?[ 3FE A6@A=6 H:==:?8 E@ DE2?5 FA 7@C H92E E96J 36=:6G6 :D C:89E]k^Am
kAmr@FC286 2=D@ CF?D 4=@D6 E@ 9@>6] $6G6? :? E6? p>6C:42?D D2J D@>6@?6VD 4@FC286 92D A6CD@?2==J :?DA:C65 E96>[ FDF2==J D@>6@?6 :? E96:C @H? =:76 C2E96C E92? 2 AF3=:4 7:8FC6] %96 A6@A=6 E96J ?2>6 >@DE 2C6 7C:6?5D[ A2C6?ED[ 2?5 72>:=J >6>36CD]k^Am
kAm%9C66 J62CD 28@[ 367@C6 E9:D DFCG6J 6I:DE65[ #J6 q2C4@EE DE2CE65 HC:E:?8 23@FE E96 =6256CD H9@ 2C6 E96 6I46AE:@?] p |2C:?6 G6E6C2? 2?5 4@\7@F?56C @7 (:E9 w@?@C[ q2C4@EE DA6?E J62CD AC@7:=:?8 E6? 6=64E65 @77:4:2=D — 7:G6 s6>@4C2ED 2?5 7:G6 #6AF3=:42?D — H9@ 925 E2<6? AC:?4:A=65 DE2?5D 2E C62= A6CD@?2= 4@DE] (92E 96 7@F?5 >:CC@CD H92E E96 DFCG6J ?@H 4@?7:C>Di 4@FC286 :? AF3=:4 =:76 92D?VE G2?:D965] xEVD ;FDE C2C6 6?@F89 E@ 36 C6>2C<23=6]k^Am
kAmQp>6C:42?D 92G6?VE 8:G6? FA @? 4@FC286] %96J D66 :E :? E96:C ?6:893@CD[ E96:C A2C6?ED[ E96:C 7C:6?5D — E96J ;FDE 5@?VE D66 :E :? (2D9:?8E@?[Q D2:5 q2C4@EE] Q%96D6 E6? =6256CD 2C6 AC@@7 E92E :E DE:== 6I:DED :? AF3=:4 =:76] ~? E96 6G6 @7 p>6C:42VD ad_E9 2??:G6CD2CJ[ E96 :?G:E2E:@? :D 7@C 2== @7 FDi E@ 49@@D6 4@FC286[ E@ 49@@D6 D6CG:46[ 2?5 :? 5@:?8 D@[ E@ D92A6 E96 ?2E:@? H6 H2?E E@ =:G6 :?]Qk^Am
kAmp>6C:42?D 2=D@ F?56CDE2?5 E92E 4@FC286 4@>6D 2E 2 4@DE] u@CEJ\7@FC A6C46?E D2J E96J H@F=5 36 4@?46C?65 23@FE ?682E:G6 4@?D6BF6?46D 7@C AF3=:4=J 5:D28C66:?8 H:E9 A6@A=6 @? E96:C @H? D:56 — E96:C A2CEJ[ E96:C 72:E9 4@>>F?:EJ[ E96:C AC@76DD:@?[ @C E96:C 7C:6?5D] u@CEJ\D:I A6C46?E D2J 5@:?8 D@ E2<6D D:8?:7:42?E @C 6IEC2@C5:?2CJ 4@FC286] %9@D6 4@?46C?D 2C6 ?62C=J :56?E:42= 24C@DD A2CEJ =:?6D] p>@?8 G6E6C2?D[ E96 ?F>36CD D9:7Ei >:=:E2CJ G6E6C2?D C6A@CE ?@E23=J =6DD 762C @7 DA62<:?8 FA E92? ?@?\G6E6C2?D]k^Am
kAmr@FC286 r2? $2G6 &$ Wq=@@>D3FCJ[ yF?6 h[ a_aeX :D 2 }6H *@C< %:>6D 2?5 &$p %@52J 36DED6==6C] p== 2FE9@C AC@4665D 8@ E@ (:E9 w@?@C]k^Am
kAmp>6C:42?D 2C6 :?G:E65 E@ D92C6 2 DE@CJ @7 4@FC286 7C@> E96:C @H? =:G6D — 2 r@FC286 |@>6?E — 2E k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^6586]AC?6HDH:C6]4@>^4^=:?<^nEl_U2>Aj=l6?U2>Aj@lcf`fggb\`U2>Aj9lafafbfhf`gU2>AjFl9EEATbpTauTau4@FC28642?D2G6FD]4@>TauU2>Aj2l4@FC28642?D2G6FD]4@>Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Q C6=lQ?@7@==@HQm4@FC28642?D2G6FD]4@>k^2m]k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8mz6J u:?5:?8Dk^DEC@?8mk^Am
kF= EJA6lQ5:D4Qmk=:mkDEC@?8meaTk^DEC@?8m @7 p>6C:42?D D66 4@FC286 :? E96:C @H? 4@>>F?:E:6Dj ;FDE b_T D66 :E :? 6=64E65 =6256CD]k^=:mk=:mkDEC@?8mheTk^DEC@?8m D2J :E :D :>A@CE2?E 7@C 6G6CJ52J p>6C:42?D E@ 24E H:E9 4@FC286j hdT D2J E96 D2>6 @7 6=64E65 @77:4:2=D]k^=:mk=:mkDEC@?8maeTk^DEC@?8m :56?E:7J A6@A=6 H:==:?8 E@ DE2?5 FA 7@C H92E E96J 36=:6G6 :D C:89E 2D E96:C E@A D@FC46 @7 @AE:>:D> 23@FE p>6C:42VD 7FEFC6 — C2?<:?8 29625 @7 @FC 7C665@>D[ 5:G6CD:EJ[ :??@G2E:@?[ 2?5 64@?@>:4 DEC6?8E9]k^=:mk=:mkDEC@?8mf_Tk^DEC@?8m D2J D@>6@?6VD 4@FC286 92D A6CD@?2==J :?DA:C65 E96> — >@DE @7E6? D@>6@?6 E96J <?@H A6CD@?2==J]k^=:mk=:mu:CDE C6DA@?56CD We_TX 2?5 >:=:E2CJ A6CD@??6= Wc`TX C2?< 9:896DE 2>@?8 8C@FAD p>6C:42?D 2DD@4:2E6 H:E9 4@FC286] t=64E65 =6256CD C2?< ?62C E96 3@EE@>]k^=:mk=:m#@F89=J EH@\E9:C5D 36=:6G6 6=64E65 @77:4:2=D D9@H =6DD 4@FC286 E@52J E92? E96J 5:5 a_ J62CD 28@]k^=:mk=:mkDEC@?8mccTk^DEC@?8m D2J E96J H@F=5 36 4@?46C?65 23@FE ?682E:G6 4@?D6BF6?46D 7@C AF3=:4=J 5:D28C66:?8 H:E9 A6@A=6 @? E96:C @H? D:56j ceT D2J 5@:?8 D@ E2<6D D:8?:7:42?E @C 6IEC2@C5:?2CJ 4@FC286 — 2E ?62C=J :56?E:42= C2E6D 24C@DD A2CEJ =:?6D]k^=:mk^F=m
kAmkDEC@?8mp3@FE r@FC286 r2? $2G6 &$k^Am
kAmk^DEC@?8mk6>mr@FC286 r2? $2G6 &$k^6>m Wq=@@>D3FCJ[ yF?6 h[ a_aeX :D 2 }6H *@C< %:>6D 2?5 &$p %@52J 36DED6==6C] xE AC@7:=6D E6? =6256CD :? AF3=:4 =:76 — 7:G6 s6>@4C2ED 2?5 7:G6 #6AF3=:42?D — H9@ 92G6 E2<6? AC:?4:A=65 DE2?5D 2E A6CD@?2= 4@DE] p== 2FE9@C AC@4665D 8@ E@ (:E9 w@?@C] pG2:=23=6 H96C6G6C 3@@<D 2C6 D@=5] {62C? >@C6 2E k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^6586]AC?6HDH:C6]4@>^4^=:?<^nEl_U2>Aj=l6?U2>Aj@lcf`fggb\`U2>Aj9laccac`ff`bU2>AjFl9EEADTbpTauTau4@FC28642?D2G6FD]4@>TauU2>Aj2l4@FC28642?D2G6FD]4@>Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Q C6=lQ?@7@==@HQm4@FC28642?D2G6FD]4@>k^2m]k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8mp3@FE (:E9 w@?@Ck^Am
kAmk^DEC@?8m(:E9 w@?@C :D 2 4C@DD\A2CE:D2? @C82?:K2E:@? E92E 7:89ED A@=2C:K2E:@? 3J DFAA@CE:?8 AC:?4:A=65 G6E6C2? =6256CD9:A :? AF3=:4 @77:46] {62C? >@C6 2E k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^6586]AC?6HDH:C6]4@>^4^=:?<^nEl_U2>Aj=l6?U2>Aj@lcf`fggb\`U2>Aj9ladb``ehhceU2>AjFl9EEATbpTauTauH:E99@?@C]@C8TauU2>Aj2lH:E99@?@C]@C8Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Q C6=lQ?@7@==@HQmH:E99@?@C]@C8k^2m]k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8mp3@FE E96 $FCG6Jk^Am
kAmk^DEC@?8m#6DF=ED 2C6 32D65 @? 2 (:E9 w@?@C–v2==FA H63 DFCG6J 4@?5F4E65 |2J `a–aa[ a_ae[ H:E9 2 C2?5@> D2>A=6 @7 b[`hh &]$] 25F=ED[ >6>36CD @7 E96 v2==FA !2?6=] %96 >2C8:? @7 D2>A=:?8 6CC@C :D ±a]` A6C46?E286 A@:?ED 2E E96 hdT 4@?7:56?46 =6G6=]k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m|65:2 r@?E24Eik^DEC@?8m $FD2? u@C36D[ k2 9C67lQ>2:=E@i7@C36DoH:E99@?@C]@C8Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Q C6=lQ?@7@==@HQm7@C36DoH:E99@?@C]@C8k^2mk^Am
kA :5lQ!&#{Qmk:>8 E:E=6lQr:D:@?Q H:5E9lQ`aQ 96:89ElQ`aQ 2=ElQr:D:@?Q DC4lQ9EEADi^^6586]AC?6HDH:C6]4@>^4^:>8^72G:4@?]A?8nD?l!wh_b`eU2>AjD5la_ae\_e\acQ ^m ':6H @C:8:?2= 4@?E6?E E@ 5@H?=@25 >F=E:>65:2ik2 :5lQ!#}&#{Q C6=lQ?@7@==@HQ 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]AC?6HDH:C6]4@>^?6HD\C6=62D6D^2D\2>6C:42?D\D2J\4@FC286\:D\G2?:D9:?8\:?\H2D9:?8E@?\2\?6H\3@@<\AC@7:=6D\A@=:E:42=\=6256CD\H9@\AC@G6\:E\:D?E\b_ag_gc_a]9E>=Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qm9EEADi^^HHH]AC?6HDH:C6]4@>^?6HD\C6=62D6D^2D\2>6C:42?D\D2J\4@FC286\:D\G2?:D9:?8\:?\H2D9:?8E@?\2\?6H\3@@<\AC@7:=6D\A@=:E:42=\=6256CD\H9@\AC@G6\:E\:D?E\b_ag_gc_a]9E>=k^2mk^Am
kAm$~&#rt (:E9 w@?@C p4E:@?k^Am
kAmk:>8 2=ElQQ DC4lQ9EEADi^^CE]AC?6HDH:C6]4@>^CE]8:7n}6HDxE6>x5l!wh_b`eU2>Aj%C2?D>:DD:@?0x5la_ae_eac___`!#0}t($0&$!#00000!wh_b`eU2>Ajs2E6x5la_ae_eacQ DEJ=6lQ3@C56Ci_AIj H:5E9i`AIj 96:89Ei`AIjQ ^mk^Am

(0) comments
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.