Americans Disagree With Trump?
A recent survey reveals that a significant majority of Americans support increasing federal funding in key areas, even as the Trump administration pushes for large-scale cuts to government spending. According to a YouGov poll conducted at the end of February, a majority of respondents favored increased government spending in nearly every category examined.
The survey, which asked participants about their preferences for federal spending across 40 different sectors, found that there was no category in which a majority supported cutting funding. While foreign aid came close, with 49 percent favoring a reduction in funding, 20 percent supported an increase, 21 percent were in favor of maintaining current funding, and 9 percent were uncertain.
In contrast, the majority of Americans favored either maintaining or increasing spending in almost every other category. In fact, in 28 of the 40 areas, over 50 percent of respondents said they wanted the federal government to increase funding. This is particularly notable in sectors such as elderly care, veterans’ services, and cybersecurity, where at least 70 percent of those surveyed supported more funding. Specifically, 76 percent favored increased funding for elderly care, 73 percent for veterans’ services, and 73 percent for cybersecurity.
Other areas where Americans overwhelmingly supported more government spending include disaster relief (72 percent), mental health services (71 percent), and healthcare services (72 percent). Respondents were less supportive of cuts, with no more than 6 percent favoring reductions in funding for these critical areas.
However, while Americans are generally supportive of more funding in these areas, many remain critical of the way the federal government manages taxpayer dollars. Nearly half of respondents (46 percent) described the government’s spending as “very wasteful,” with an additional 29 percent saying it’s “somewhat wasteful.” Only 16 percent believed that government spending is handled efficiently.
These findings highlight a paradox in Washington, where lawmakers echo the concerns of their constituents about wasteful government spending but often struggle to find areas where cuts can be made. This sentiment is reflected in the Trump administration’s ongoing efforts to reduce the size of the federal workforce and eliminate waste and fraud in government operations—efforts that have sparked controversy and legal challenges.
The survey, conducted between February 24 and 27, included 2,259 adult participants, with a margin of error of 2.7 percentage points. It underscores a growing tension between Americans’ desire for increased government services and their frustration with inefficient spending.
