A series of recent polls highlights widespread public dissatisfaction with the federal government, with many Americans favoring efforts to reduce its size and improve efficiency. A Pew Research survey from this summer found that 56% of Americans believe the government is “almost always wasteful and inefficient,” while Gallup reports that 55% feel the government is doing “too much,” compared to 41% who think it should do more.
Gallup also revealed that 58% of Americans are dissatisfied with the size and power of the federal government. The polling indicates that while opinions on the ideal size of government are more evenly split, there is broad agreement on the need to increase efficiency. In 2019, 70% of Americans agreed that businesses can perform tasks more efficiently than the federal government.
These sentiments come as President-elect Donald Trump prepares to implement sweeping plans to reduce the scope of government. Trump has appointed businessman Vivek Ramaswamy and billionaire Elon Musk to lead the new Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). The department aims to dismantle bureaucracy, cut waste, and restructure federal agencies.
“Together, these two wonderful Americans will pave the way for my Administration to dismantle Government Bureaucracy, slash excess regulations, cut wasteful expenditures, and restructure Federal Agencies – Essential to the ‘Save America’ Movement,” Trump said in his announcement.
Both Ramaswamy and Musk have been vocal critics of federal inefficiency. Ramaswamy has laid out plans to reduce federal spending by targeting thousands of government positions, while Musk has endorsed ambitious goals to eliminate waste. The duo has publicly stated that DOGE could save $2 trillion by restructuring agencies and eliminating redundant or non-essential programs.
On Thursday, Ramaswamy and Musk met with lawmakers on Capitol Hill to discuss potential cuts, which could include transferring federal responsibilities, such as education, back to state governments. Trump’s allies have also proposed reducing spending on diversity, equity, and inclusion programs, which they argue promote ideology over practicality.
While bold proposals like these may face resistance, polling suggests a strong and consistent desire among Americans for smaller government. Gallup’s data shows that over the past 24 years, an average of 52% of Americans have said the government is doing too much, compared to 42% who think it should do more. The only exceptions were during times of national crisis: after the 9/11 terrorist attacks in 2001 and the outbreak of COVID-19 in 2020.
As the Trump administration prepares to take office, the push to streamline government operations and address inefficiencies appears to align with public sentiment. Whether these efforts succeed remains to be seen, but for many Americans, reducing waste and scaling back federal power is a long-awaited priority.
