Americans want smaller government but new polls shows whether they like how Musk, DOGE, are going about it
Americans like the idea of downsizing the federal government but are far from thrilled with how billionaire Elon Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) are carrying out cuts to the federal bureaucracy, according to new national polling.
A new national poll reveals that while many Americans support reducing the size of the federal government, they are uneasy with how President Donald Trump and Elon Musk are implementing the cuts.
Following his return to the White House last November, Trump established the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to streamline and shrink federal agencies. He appointed Musk—Tesla and SpaceX CEO and the world’s richest person—to lead the initiative.
Since January, DOGE has aggressively cut federal spending and eliminated thousands of jobs, drawing national attention and sparking legal challenges.
An NBC News poll conducted March 7-11 found that 46% of voters believe creating DOGE was a good decision, compared to 40% who disagree. However, when asked about their opinion of DOGE’s impact, 47% held a negative view, while 41% were supportive.
A Reuters/Ipsos poll from March 11-12 shows similar findings: 59% of respondents favor reducing the federal government’s size, but the same percentage oppose mass layoffs of federal employees. Additionally, 50% say Trump and Musk have gone too far in budget cuts, while 38% support their approach.
Trump has praised Musk’s leadership, hailing him as a "true patriot" in a recent Fox News interview. Yet public perception of Musk is lukewarm. The NBC poll shows only 39% of Americans view him favorably, while 51% see him negatively. In the Reuters/Ipsos survey, Musk’s approval stood at 38%, with 59% disapproving.
A Quinnipiac poll (March 6-10) found that 60% of voters disapprove of how DOGE is handling federal workforce reductions, with 54% believing Musk’s actions are harming the country. Similarly, a CNN poll (March 6-9) indicated that over 60% fear essential federal programs will be shut down due to DOGE’s cuts, while 37% feel more wasteful spending should be eliminated.
Aware of the backlash, Trump recently shifted responsibility for workforce reductions from Musk to Cabinet secretaries. In a social media post, he emphasized that government downsizing would be conducted with a “scalpel, not a hatchet.”
This article was reported by journalist Jimmy.