WASHINGTON, D.C. — Military veterans rank second only to nurses in Americans’ ratings of honesty and ethics, according to a newly released Gallup Honesty and Ethics poll conducted Dec. 1–15, 2025.
Gallup’s annual survey measures public perceptions of honesty and ethical standards across a range of professions. Military veterans were included as a rated group for the first time in this year’s poll. The results place veterans second-highest among the professions measured, behind only nurses.
“Gallup’s findings underscore something many Americans already feel: veterans are widely trusted to lead with integrity,” said Rye Barcott, Founder and President of the With Honor Institute. “That confidence is an opportunity to strengthen civic life—locally and nationally—at a moment when trust in institutions is under real strain.”
Gallup has tracked Americans’ views on honesty and ethics since 1976, updating the list of professions each year. The 2025 poll evaluated 21 occupations in total.
The findings also highlight a significant trust gap across American institutions. In the 2025 survey, members of Congress and telemarketers were the only professions rated as having “low” or “very low” honesty and ethical standards by a majority of respondents.
With Honor Institute (WHI) was created to strengthen the foundation of our democracy and inspire a new era of trust in our nation’s leaders. WHI’s commitment is rooted in integrity, civility, and courage, building a future together in trust and leadership across party lines.
These results closely mirror findings from a With Honor Institute-Gallup study conducted late last year, which found that a majority of adults (55%) are more likely to support a political candidate with prior military backgrounds — a more decisive influence than both business and government experience.
Taken together, these surveys paint a multidimensional picture of public confidence in veterans, viewed not only as individuals who uphold strong ethical standards but also as a trusted institution within American civic life. As Americans search for leaders they can trust, the data point to a consistent conclusion — veterans remain among the most credible and trusted voices in public life, even amid widespread institutional skepticism.
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With Honor Institute (WHI) is a 501(c)(3) nonpartisan nonprofit whose mission is to fight polarization and strengthen the foundation of our democracy. WHI works to educate, inform, and support principled veterans and servant leaders who value integrity, civility, and courage—the Institute endeavors to bridge divides and foster collaboration to create a more effective and less polarized Congress.
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