WASHINGTON — A recent poll reveals that many Americans view the federal government as plagued by corruption, inefficiency, and bureaucratic red tape, but there is uncertainty regarding Elon Musk’s role in addressing these issues.
Approximately 30% of U.S. adults either strongly or somewhat support President Trump’s initiative to form an advisory committee for government efficiency, which Musk is leading. In contrast, about 40% express disapproval, while the remaining individuals are either undecided or lack sufficient knowledge to form an opinion. This survey was conducted prior to Vivek Ramaswamy’s announcement that he would no longer participate in the group.
The newly established body, known as the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), aims to identify and eliminate fraudulent and wasteful expenditure within federal operations. Its proponents have proposed various measures to cut costs, including the potential closure of entire government agencies. While there is a consensus regarding the significant challenges facing the federal government, many Americans harbor unfavorable feelings towards Musk and are cautious about a billionaire’s influence on government policy.
As plans start to take clearer form, public opinion remains mixed concerning the changes suggested by Trump and his administration over the past few months, which involve potential mass layoffs and relocating federal agencies away from Washington, D.C. A considerable number of respondents remain neutral, suggesting a willingness for opinions to evolve. In contrast, Trump’s push for a return-to-office policy for federal employees appears to be more broadly accepted.
Many Americans perceive the federal government as fundamentally flawed but exhibit less concern regarding the notion of a “deep state.” As Trump embarks on his second term, pledging to roll back regulations and diminish bureaucratic influence, surveys indicate that a significant portion of the population acknowledges substantial problems within the government. Approximately 66% of adults identify corruption and inefficiency as critical issues, with 60% echoing concerns about excessive governmental regulations, often referred to as red tape.
Republicans tend to be more critical of these issues compared to their Democratic counterparts; however, even a majority of Democrats agree that corruption and inefficiency pose serious challenges. Despite Trump claiming that career federal employees obstructed his policies during his initial term, only about one-third of Americans perceive this as a major concern within the government.
Musk’s visibility has been notable since Trump’s inauguration, having played a prominent role during the ceremony and afterwards. Currently, roughly one-third of Americans have a positive view of Musk, a slight decline since December. Interestingly, sentiments towards both Musk and Trump show significant overlap; around 80% of Americans who have an opinion about one also share similar feelings towards the other. There are indications of distrust towards billionaires in general, with many citizens believing it detrimental for the president to seek guidance from affluent individuals on government matters.
As for Trump’s return-to-office directive for federal employees, this approach appears to resonate more favorably than proposals for cutting federal jobs. The executive order promoting office attendance was part of efforts to bolster government efficiency, which Trump and Musk had discussed pre-inauguration. A large portion of the population remains undecided regarding both the return-to-office and job elimination proposals, indicating potential shifts in opinions as actions are implemented. However, a substantial 40% of Americans oppose large-scale job cuts compared to only 30% in support, while 40% favor a mandate for federal workers to return to the office full-time.
Trump argues that relocating agencies from Washington, D.C. could dismantle the perceived “deep state,” a concept suggesting a hidden network of unelected officials steering policy. Although he initiated some job relocations toward the end of his first term, broader implementation may be required for the public to formulate a definitive stance on the matter. Nearly 50% of respondents in the poll remain neutral on the idea, with around 25% supporting and an equal proportion opposing the relocation of federal agencies.
The poll, conducted between January 9-13, surveyed 1,147 adults using a sample drawn from NORC’s AmeriSpeak Panel, which aims to reflect the broader U.S. demographics. The reported margin of error for the overall adult sample is plus or minus 3.9 percentage points.
