Only about three in 10 Americans support President Trump’s formation of the “Department of Government Efficiency” (DOGE) that tech billionaire Elon Musk helms, but the majority agree that inefficiency and corruption are major issues in the federal government, according to a new survey released on Friday.
The new Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research poll found that around one in three U.S. adults, 29 percent, “strongly or somewhat” approve of the creation of DOGE, which is said to be focused on slashing government spending and reducing red tape. Nearly four in 10, 39 percent, said they strongly or somewhat disapprove of the advisory body while 12 percent neither approve nor disapprove. Some 19 percent said they did not know enough about DOGE.
A majority of Republican voters, 58 percent, at least somewhat back DOGE. The support for the advisory body is significantly lower among independents and Democrats, according to the poll.
Over half of the public, 52 percent, have an unfavorable view of Musk, an influential Trump ally who spent at least $250 million during the 2024 White House race to help elect the president last year. Over a third of respondents, 36 percent, said they have a favorable view of the SpaceX and Tesla executive, according to the survey.
The majority of those polled think that red tape (59 percent), inefficiency (65 percent) and corruption (70 percent) are enormous issues in the federal government, the very topics DOGE is said to be tackling during Trump’s second term, along with cutting upwards of $2 billion in spending.
DOGE was originally set to be led by Musk and former 2024 GOP presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy. But Ramaswamy said earlier this week that he will be departing DOGE as he plans to focus on his Ohio governor bid. The poll was done before Ramaswamy’s departure became public.
The commission has already been hit with three lawsuits, alleging it does not comply with the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA).
Other billionaires, aside from Musk, have donated to Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign. But the prospect of billionaires now advising the president was not popular among respondents.
Around six in 10, 60 percent, think that it would be “very or somewhat” bad if Trump would depend on their advice when discussing policy. Around 12 percent said the prospect of it was a very or somewhat good thing while nearly three in 10, 28 percent, were neutral on the topic, according to the survey.
The poll was conducted from Jan. 9-13 this year among 1,147 adults. The margin of error was 3.9 percentage points.
