Summary Is American Democracy Being

THE STEADY STATE

The following is a summary of The Steady State’s “Accelerating Authoritarian Dynamics: Assessment of Democratic Decline,” published on October 16, 2025. Representing more than 340 former national security professionals — including diplomats, military officers, and intelligence officials — the Assessment is authored by former U.S. Intelligence Community analysts. Using the analytic methods they once relied on to assess foreign threats, they turn that expertise inward to evaluate the health of U.S. democracy.

Bottom Line

The report concludes that the nation is headed towards “competitive authoritarianism.” This means elections and courts still exist, but they are manipulated to help those in power stay in power.

Unless institutions and the public push back, this slide towards authoritarianism is likely to continue.

Five Interrelated Trends

1. Consolidation of Executive Overreach

The president is consolidating power in the Executive Branch. He is doing this using executive orders and emergency powers and politicizing the civil service and watchdog agencies He is also targeting perceived opponents and protecting his allies.

2. Erosion of Judicial Independence

The independence of the judicial branch has been weakened. This is happening through partisan appointments, reliance on the Supreme Court’s shadow docket, intimidation of lawyers and judges, and efforts to limit court-mandated corrective measures. Additionally, there have been instances in which the Administration has not complied with court rulings.

3. Legislative Weakness

Congress has relinquished much of its power, delegating more and more power to the executive. Therefore, their ability to serve as a coequal branch is greatly weakened. Obstruction of congressional norms, where the majority party takes advantage of parliamentary procedures, also weakens Congress’s effectiveness. Additionally, partisan polarization undermines Congress’s oversight ability.

4. Reshaping of the Electoral System

Our electoral system is being reshaped through things like gerrymandering and voting restrictions and also through partisan control of its administration. Election officials are being intimidated, and there are repeated efforts to contest certified results. The public’s expectation that elections will be run fairly and their outcomes will be accepted has diminished.

5. Undermining of Public Trust, Knowledge, and Civil Society

The public’s trust in government institutions, knowledge, and civil society has eroded. This has occurred through attacks on the press, academia, and watchdog institutions. Dissenting voices have been attacked, which has resulted in a weakened democratic culture and civic resilience.

Outside Evidence Confirms the Trend

Global democracy rankings show the U.S. in decline.

A 2024 survey shows that 41% of Americans think “having a strong leader who does not have to bother with parliament or elections” is a “very good or fairly good system.” Among Trump’s base, 55% of those whose allegiance is primarily to Trump say, “Having a strong leader who does not have to bother with Congress” is a good way of governing.

A separate 2024 survey shows that sixteen percent of Americans agreed that “Patriots may have to resort to violence in order to save our country.” Americans are increasingly open to political violence.

Public approval of the Supreme Court has fallen to historically low levels, with 7 in 10 Americans believing the court places ideology over impartiality.”

In recent years, political science experts have shown a significant drop in their ratings of the United States for principles such as government agencies not punishing political opponents, the press operating without interference, legislative checks on executive authority, and freedom of law enforcement investigations from political influence.

The Outlook

The shift toward authoritarianism is not happening through a sudden coup—it’s happening gradually and in plain sight. The United States still has democratic institutions, but they are being hollowed out and manipulated.

The more democracy is weakened, the harder it becomes to recover it. Without active resistance from Congress, the courts, the press, and especially the public, the United States risks losing what has long made it a global model of democratic governance.

Founded in 2016, The Steady State is a nonprofit 501(c)(4) organization of more than 340 former senior national security professionals. Our membership includes former officials from the CIA, FBI, Department of State, Department of Defense and Department of Homeland Security. Drawing on deep expertise across national security disciplines including intelligence, diplomacy, military affairs and law, we advocate for constitutional democracy, the rule of law and the preservation of America’s national security institutions.