In Washington, a recent survey reveals that the majority of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders do not support drastic actions such as eliminating entire federal agencies or mass layoffs of federal employees. Conducted by AAPI Data and the NORC Center for Public Affairs Research, the poll highlights that these communities prefer the government to prioritize managing everyday expenses.
Approximately 8 in 10 respondents believe that health care costs should be of utmost importance, while 7 in 10 emphasized the cost of food, and 6 in 10 were similarly concerned about housing expenses. This survey is part of an initiative to gauge the perspectives of these groups, whose opinions are often underrepresented in other research due to small sample sizes and language barriers.
The survey’s release comes amid policy changes implemented by President Donald Trump’s administration, marked by the establishment of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) with the aim of reducing government expenditure. These measures have included significant layoffs and discussions around dissolving entities such as the Department of Education.
The data shows that about 60% of AAPI adults are against abolishing entire federal agencies, with only 10% in favor. This is slightly lower compared to 20% of the general U.S. adult population that expressed the same viewpoint in an earlier poll. Additionally, nearly half are opposed to large-scale federal job cuts, and around a quarter support such actions.
The focus on government spending reductions has been met with dissatisfaction by many, including Celeste Hong from Los Angeles. Hong criticizes the focus on cutting costs in areas she views as less important than others, like health care and child care. Trump’s tariff policies also raise concerns for her as they might increase costs further.
Hong is troubled by how families managing tight budgets may cope with additional financial burdens. A significant portion of survey participants also believe the country underfunds key areas, like education and environmental protection, with two-thirds expressing this view about the education system.
Conversely, approximately half of AAPI adults feel that military expenditure is excessive. Yet, Stacy Armstrong from Michigan, a registered Republican, believes otherwise, advocating for increased funding for defense, higher education, and health care. Armstrong attributes inefficiencies to foreign aid rather than domestic allocations.
Though a Trump supporter, Armstrong disagrees with dismantling federal agencies, favoring streamlining operations instead. He acknowledges the complexity of government decisions and Trump’s potential for positive impact, despite the harsh measures employed.
Karthick Ramakrishnan, executive director of AAPI Data, notes that the diversity of views among AAPI adults is expected, given their focus on practical solutions over political allegiances. While primarily Democratic-leaning, there’s a noticeable shift among AAPIs toward recognizing potential Republican merits on economic issues.
The survey, conducted from February 4-11, 2025, involved 1,170 participants from the Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities. It incorporated online and telephone interviews in various languages to reflect accurately the community’s demographics, with a margin of error of approximately plus or minus 4.7 percentage points.
