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By Ewan Palmer
News Reporter
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President Donald Trump's plans to downsize the federal government has strong public support, according to a survey.
A poll from Reuters/Ipsos found that Trump's proposal, which will be overseen by the newly formed Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), is the only executive order or action from the president that has the backing of a majority of U.S. adults.
Newsweek has contacted the White House for comment via email.
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Why It Matters
The poll suggests that the sweeping changes Trump implemented in the opening days of his second term could hinder his approval ratings if they come to define his presidency.
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What To Know
The Reuters/Ipsos poll, published Wednesday, found that 61 percent of U.S. adults support the president's plan to downsize the federal government. The poll was conducted between January 24 and 26 among 1,034 adults, with a margin of error of 3.9 percentage points.
Soon after being sworn in for his second term, Trump announced the formation of DOGE, which aims to "dismantle" government bureaucracy and reduce federal spending.
The department is headed by billionaire tech mogul Elon Musk. Republican entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy originally co-led the department with Musk but has since departed.
The poll also found that 48 percent of Americans approve of Trump's approach to immigration—another boost for the president who made mass deportations of undocumented migrants a key campaign promise in 2024.
As of January 28, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) had reported arresting 969 people across the country as part of a large-scale crackdown on illegal immigration under the Trump administration.
Kyle Kondik, an analyst with the University of Virginia's Center for Politics, told Reuters that public support for Trump's immigration and federal downsizing plans could dwindle if they are perceived as too harsh in the coming months.
The Reuters/Ipsos survey found that Trump's plan to reduce government bureaucracy and spending is the only one of his executive orders that has majority support among U.S. adults.
Trump's proposal to end the requirement that government employees report gifts or investments is the least popular of his plans, with 77 percent of those surveyed opposing it.
Other actions implemented by Trump that have been met with public disapproval include the renaming the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America (70 percent oppose); pardoning those convicted over the January 6, 2021 attack on the Capitol (62 percent oppose); and attempting to largely end birthright citizenship (59 percent oppose).
When broken down further, 36 percent of Republicans said they opposed ending birthright citizenship.
Other proposals put forward by Trump, such as a 25-percent tariff imported goods from Canada (60 percent oppose) and ending federal efforts to hire more women and racial minorities (59 percent oppose), were also rejected by a majority of respondents.
Some of Trump's policies announced in the early days of his second term received more support than opposition, though not a majority. These include ending work-from-home allowances for federal employees (49 percent support) and easing restrictions on fossil fuel drilling and production (48 percent support)
What People Are Saying
Kyle Kondik, an analyst with the University of Virginia's Center for Politics, told Reuters: "While it does seem Trump is getting a honeymoon to some extent, his numbers are still not impressive by historical standards. Trump was elected in large part because voters tended to side with him on the economy and immigration. To the extent he is viewed as doing positive things on that, it's probably good for him."
President Donald Trump said in a November 12 statement: "I am pleased to announce that the great Elon Musk, working in conjunction with American patriot Vivek Ramaswamy, will lead the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). 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."
What Happens Next
A number of Trump's executive orders and actions, including his move to end birthright citizenship and freeze federal funding, face legal challenges.
The White House has vowed to move forward with its birthright citizenship plans after a federal judge temporarily blocked the Trump administration from making the required changes.
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