Voters are concerned about the recent government spending cuts implemented by the Government’s Department of Efficiency (DOGE), even though they see the need for such efforts.
According to a national survey by New Fox News, national debt considers it a crisis or a major issue, with nearly six in ten people feeling much, or almost all of government spending feeling “vain and inefficient.”
But a 51% majority has significantly reduced the number of government employees, the Trump administration has identified wasteful spending and denied 56% disapproval of jobs that are cutting, and another 65% worry that they are worried that adequate thinking and planning have not been cut.
Fox News poll: Trump is the most popular he’s ever done
A significant few Republicans (39%) share concerns from a large number of Democrats (88%) and independents (71%) about how the cuts are being implemented.
Elon Musk has approved 40% of the work he works with Doge, and 58% disapproved. 93% of Democrats disapprove, 70% of independents and 20% of Republicans disapprove.
When asked about funding specific federal programs, the majority believe that governments should increase funding for Social Security (63%), Medicare and Medicaid (58%) and medical research (53%), while the majority say the same thing about funding for military and defense (44%). Feelings are more complicated with humanitarian foreign aid, as 23% want to increase federal funding in aid, so 36% will be kept at the same level as last year and 39% want to reduce it.
Overall, one in four voters say someone in their family is heavily affected by government cuts, with 79% of the group worried about how the cuts were handled.
Voters are also questioning tariffs as the majority believe that the measures will buy expensive products (69%) and hurt the economy (53%). Views are split at the frontline of job openings, with 35% saying tariffs help us protect our jobs and 39% saying it hurts.
Fox News poll: More than half of the Biden administration has worsened the economy
The fact that 53% say they are hurting tariffs is rising from 50% in January to a low of 39% in 2024.
When asked about certain tariffs, voters prefer to impose them on products from China (55%) and oppose tariffs in Mexico (56%) and Canada (61%).
The economy as a whole, the growing number of voters thinks it’s a bad state, many think inflation is out of control, and most think there’s at least some degree of recession.
Economy views have been sour since President Donald Trump launched his second term, as 79% of voters have given a negative mark from 70% two months ago. This increase in pessimism comes from a 35-point jump, primarily among Democrats, as well as an 18-point jump among independents. During the same period, Republican economic ratings shifted aggressively by 22 points.
At the end of December, at the end of former President Joe Biden’s term, 77% had a negative view of the economy.
Approximately 60% of voters rate their personal finances negatively, which is better than 62% in December.
And almost half, 47%, continue to say that inflation is “nothing” at all, down from 56% in early 2023 (when the question was last asked).
Seven in 10 say they are looking for a recession this year, including Democrats (93%) and independents (72%) and half of Republicans (50%).
These sentiments help explain why more than four in ten people identify inflation (27%) or the economy (16%) in general as the most important issue facing the country. They then won the most commonly mentioned issues: political sector (14%), political leadership/corruption (10%), and immigration (8%). For reference, 3% cited government spending and 2% cited tariffs.
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“The partisans have adjusted their attitudes as the administration changes, but the public remains uneasy about the economy,” says Daron Shaw, a Republican poller who runs the Fox News investigation with Democrat Chris Anderson. “Trump’s tariff policy aggression and the pace of Kuji’s actions have surprised Democrats and many independents. If Trump maintains widespread public support, it is essential that his approach produces results.”
Generally, 43% are happy with how things in the country are going. This is an increase of 12 points from 31% in December. Approximately 57%, including 20% of Republicans, are dissatisfied. Voters’ complaints reached a 75% high in Biden’s term (August 2022). Trump’s first term peaked at 66% (August 2020).
Again, major partisan changes since taking office have driven these changing numbers. A new survey shows that after Biden resigned, Democrats, who are pleased with the direction of the country, have dropped 33 points to 9%. And since Trump took office, 80% of Republicans are now happy, up 55 points.
Trump began his first term with a 48% job approval rate (February 2017). Today, his approval is a record 49%, and he also achieved once in his first term (April 2020). For comparison, Biden’s highest approval was 56% in June 2021. Currently, 92% of Democrats disapprove of Trump, but the same number of Republicans have approved it (92%). 97% of Trump supporters in 2024 prefer the work he does as president.
Trump’s ratings are underwater at 13 points in the economy (43% approved – 56% disapproved) and 18 points in inflation (40-58%). He receives the highest mark in border security (43% disapproved), as a majority of 56% have approved.
The FOX News survey, conducted under the direction of Beacon Research (D) and Shaw & Company Research (R) from March 14-17, 2025, includes interviews with a sample of 994 registered voters randomly selected from voter files across the country. Respondents either spoke with live interviewers on landlines (123) and mobile phones (648) or completed the survey online after receiving texts (223). The results based on the complete sample have a margin of sampling error of ±3 percentage points. Higher sampling errors associated with results between subgroups. In addition to sampling errors, the language and order of questions can affect the outcome. Weight generally applies to age, race, education, and local variables, ensuring that respondents’ demographics represent the registered voter population. Sources for developing weight goals include American Community Survey, voter analysis for Fox News, and voter file data.
Victoria Balara of Fox News contributed to this report.
As head of the voting unit, Dana Blanton will conduct Fox News polls and oversee Fox News’ voter analysis election survey.
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