What Americans think the Trump administration’s federal jobs cuts, Elon Musk and DOGE

Americans are in favor of downsizing the federal government, but they are not pleased with how Elon Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) are executing the cuts, according to recent national polls. President Donald Trump established DOGE after winning the White House last November, with the goal of revamping and reducing the size of the federal government. Musk, the wealthiest person in the world and the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, was appointed by Trump to lead the organization.

DOGE has been rapidly making changes within federal agencies over the past two months, identifying billions in wasteful spending and significantly reducing the federal workforce. These actions have gained widespread attention and resulted in a surge of lawsuits. Despite a 46%-40% margin in favor of creating DOGE in an NBC News poll, 47% of respondents have negative views of the organization, with only 41% holding positive opinions.

Similarly, a Reuters/IPSOS survey found that while 59% of Americans support downsizing the federal government, 59% oppose the mass firing of federal workers. Additionally, 50% believe that Trump and Musk have gone too far in cutting federal spending.

Although Trump has praised Musk for his efforts with DOGE, calling him a “real patriot” during a recent address to Congress, public opinion of Musk remains divided. Only 39% of respondents in the NBC News poll had a positive view of Musk, while 51% viewed him negatively. In the Reuters/Ipsos survey, Musk’s favorability rating was at 38%, with 59% holding an unfavorable opinion.

A Quinnipiac University poll indicated that 60% of voters disapprove of how Musk and DOGE are handling federal government employees, with only 36% approving. Furthermore, 54% believe that Musk and DOGE are harming the country, while 40% think they are helping.

A CNN poll revealed that over 60% of respondents fear that the cuts by DOGE will go too far and result in the shutdown of essential federal programs. In response to the negative feedback, Trump has instructed Cabinet secretaries to take charge of department downsizing within their agencies, emphasizing the use of a “scalpel” rather than a “hatchet” in making staffing cuts.

Overall, while Americans support the idea of downsizing the federal government, there is widespread concern about the methods being employed by Musk and DOGE. As the restructuring continues, it will be crucial for the administration to address these concerns and ensure that government efficiency is achieved without causing undue harm.