America's Courage Deficit: A Leadership Crisis with Economic Consequences

WASHINGTON, June 24, 2026 – In an era defined by geopolitical turbulence and rapid innovation, the most critical resource for any nation may not be capital or technology, but courage. A new landmark survey from With Honor and Gallup reveals a troubling deficit of this very resource where Americans believe it matters most: in the halls of power.

The data paints a stark picture of a nation divided in its perception of valor. While a healthy 62% of Americans see acts of courage in their own communities, a mere 30% say the same of their elected leaders in Washington. This 32-point gap is not a momentary dip in public sentiment; it is a chasm of confidence that has been widening for two decades. According to the survey, roughly two-thirds of Americans believe officials show less courage today than they did 20 years ago. This perception aligns with a broader, systemic erosion of public trust, with separate polling showing trust in the federal government hovering at near-record lows.

For strategists and business leaders, this “courage deficit” is more than a political headline; it is a leading indicator of systemic risk. A government perceived as lacking the conviction to make difficult, principled decisions is one that struggles to enact long-term policy, foster a stable investment climate, or command respect on the global stage. In the run-up to America’s 250th anniversary, the question is no longer just about political polarization, but about a fundamental crisis in leadership.

The Anatomy of American Courage

While faith in Washington wanes, the survey reveals that Americans have not, in fact, lost their belief in courage itself. When asked to identify groups they associate with the trait, they point overwhelmingly to first responders (60%) and military personnel (41%). Elected leaders rank near the bottom of the list. This suggests the public’s definition of courage is tied to service, sacrifice, and a willingness to put the welfare of others above self-interest—qualities they see as increasingly absent from the political arena.

Even more telling is where courage resonates most deeply. Seven in ten Americans report having been personally inspired by an act of courage, and the source is rarely a public figure. Instead, they name parents, friends, and other family members. Courage, in the American psyche, is local, personal, and tangible. This grassroots appreciation for valor stands in stark contrast to the performative, partisan battles that dominate national discourse.

Yet, the survey also uncovers the friction that prevents this local courage from scaling. A significant 44% of Americans—at nearly identical rates across party lines—admit they would be concerned about negative consequences for publicly disagreeing with their own side. Nearly half (46%) believe doing so requires significant or extraordinary courage. This fear of social and professional reprisal acts as a powerful brake on the very principled dissent that is the lifeblood of a healthy democracy and an innovative economy. The data suggests a populace that yearns for bravery but is acutely aware of the personal costs associated with it.

A Blueprint for Principled Leadership

Anticipating this national sentiment, Marine veteran and With Honor co-founder Rye Barcott has spent three years chronicling the exceptions to the rule. His new book, Courage Can Save US, is less a lament than a field guide to the endangered species of the principled politician. The New York Times bestseller profiles ten sitting elected officials—five Democrats and five Republicans—who have taken principled stands at significant personal and political cost.

The book and the survey that followed are part of a concerted effort to diagnose the problem and offer a data-driven prescription. “Americans haven't given up on courage. They see it in their neighbors, their parents, their friends — they just don't see it in Washington,” Barcott said in a statement. “These ten leaders are proof that it still exists in public life. On the eve of America's 250th anniversary, the invitation is for all of us: to choose courage, to choose service, and in doing so, to shape the nation we want to live in.”

Barcott’s work is predicated on the idea that courage is a demonstrable skill, not an abstract virtue, and that by highlighting it, we can create a new metric for evaluating leadership. By focusing on bipartisan examples, the project aims to reframe courage not as loyalty to a tribe, but as a willingness to transcend it for a greater principle.

The Veteran Advantage: A Strategy to Restore Trust?

This initiative is deeply intertwined with the core mission of With Honor, a cross-partisan organization dedicated to combating polarization by supporting principled veteran leadership. The strategy is straightforward: if the public perceives a courage deficit and simultaneously associates the military with courage, then elevating veteran leaders is a direct path to restoring public trust. Previous polling by the organization supports this thesis, showing 55% of Americans are more likely to vote for a candidate with military service, and 83% believe veterans possess strong leadership skills.

This approach treats the crisis of confidence as a problem that can be systematically addressed. It leverages the high public regard for veterans, who are widely seen as more likely to prioritize national interests over partisan gain. The survey data showing that military veterans report “notably less fear of speaking up” than non-veterans further reinforces the idea that their training and ethos may provide a unique immunity to the political pressures that foster timidity. For an electorate exhausted by polarization, the promise of leaders who have already sworn an oath to the country, not a party, is a powerful value proposition.

Ultimately, the With Honor and Gallup findings serve as both a warning and a roadmap. The most optimistic data point may be the one that points a way forward. When asked what makes them most optimistic about America's future, the top answer from Americans (26%) was not the nation’s freedoms, diversity, or economic strength, but “people willing to stand up for what they believe is right.” In a parallel initiative, Americans are being invited to share their own “Courage Moment” at couragecansaveus.com, an effort to build a national conversation from the ground up. This suggests the antidote to the courage deficit in Washington may lie not in waiting for heroes, but in recognizing and cultivating the valor that already exists within our own communities.