WASHINGTON — As the confirmation hearings for President-elect Donald Trump’s choice for attorney general, Pam Bondi, approach on Wednesday, a recent poll shows that only about 20% of American adults have “extremely” or “very” high confidence in the Department of Justice’s ability to operate impartially during Trump’s upcoming term.
The survey, conducted prior to the hearings for Trump’s Cabinet nominees, indicates a similar lack of trust in the FBI. Many are skeptical about the impartiality of these agencies, including some Republicans, suggesting that the incoming administration may struggle to regain confidence in these law enforcement bodies they have criticized.
Compounding these uncertainties, public opinion regarding several of Trump’s high-profile appointees skews more negative than positive, with many respondents unsure about the nominees.
Among these nominees, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., known for his activism against vaccines and his notable familial legacy, has garnered notable support among Republicans. His confirmation hearings, however, have yet to be scheduled.
Concerns about the impartiality of law enforcement agencies have risen following Trump’s selection of loyalists for key positions in the Department of Justice and the FBI, especially given his past threats to those he considers opponents. According to the poll, nearly half of respondents are either “not very” or “not at all” confident in the fairness of the Justice Department and FBI in the forthcoming term. Only about a third expressed “somewhat” of a positive feeling, while roughly 20% reported being “extremely” or “very” confident.
Interestingly, partisan divides exist even within Republican circles regarding the neutrality of these agencies. Just around 25% of Republicans are “very” confident about the DOJ and FBI’s impartiality, compared to about 40% who feel “somewhat” confident, and nearly one-third registering “not very” or “not at all” confidence.
These sentiments may stem from the pointed criticisms aimed at these institutions by Trump and his allies, including Bondi and Kash Patel. Bondi has referred to special counsel Jack Smith and other prosecutors involved in Trump’s cases as “horrible” individuals, alleging they seek personal gain through legal aggression against Trump. Patel has advocated for significant reforms in the FBI, including substantial reductions in the agency’s scope and authority.
In terms of specific Cabinet nominations, the poll reveals that only 20% of Americans approve of Pete Hegseth’s nomination to lead the Defense Department, amid his contentious confirmation hearings. Similar sentiments apply to Tulsi Gabbard and Patel’s selections, with about one-third of the public expressing disapproval for each appointee. The remaining respondents either hold no opinion or lack sufficient knowledge to comment.
While many Republicans back Trump’s choices for these positions, with about 40% showing approval, a notable fraction remains indifferent or unfamiliar with the nominees.
Public skepticism extends to Trump’s method of selecting nominees, particularly in the case of Hegseth, who lacks traditional governmental experience. Approximately 25% of respondents believe it’s beneficial for a president to seek advice from non-traditional figures, whereas 50% view it negatively, and the rest are ambivalent. Republicans tend to support the idea more than their Democratic or independent counterparts, with 40% of GOP members favoring there being more reliance on those without government experience.
Despite the mixed views on other nominees, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. stands out, with substantial support within Trump’s base. Although he is relatively well-known, public opinions toward him remain tepid overall; about 30% of Americans either “somewhat” or “strongly” back his nomination, while 40% express disapproval. Yet among Republicans, approximately 60% approve of his designation as the head of the Department of Health and Human Services.
The poll was conducted from January 9-13, involving 1,147 adults, employing a sample sourced from NORC’s probabilistic AmeriSpeak Panel, aimed at accurately representing the U.S. demographic. The margin of error stands at plus or minus 3.9 percentage points for the overall adult population.
