In February, survey data indicated that Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) received unexpected approval from the American public. A CNN analyst expressed surprise at these results.
A CBS/YouGov poll found that 54% of Americans believed DOGE and Musk should have some influence over government operations and spending. This sentiment emerged amid criticism from Democrats regarding DOGE’s strategies to reduce federal spending.
Harry Enten, a CNN data reporter, expressed his astonishment, saying, “This, to me, was one of the more shocking figures that I saw. It made me go, ‘wait a minute, hold on one second! Whoa!'”
Additionally, the survey indicated that a majority of Americans supported President Donald Trump’s efforts to reduce the federal workforce. Musk informed cabinet officials that DOGE was expected to meet its goal of cutting $1 trillion in spending.
When CNN’s Kate Bolduan queried Enten about what Americans perceived DOGE was reducing, Enten cited further survey data indicating that the public viewed the cuts as targeting wasteful spending rather than essential services.
A Washington Post and IPSOS poll discovered that 42% of registered voters thought DOGE was cutting “wasteful spending,” while 36% believed it was reducing “necessary programs.”
“Democrats want to argue that the type of spending that Musk is cutting is mainly necessary programs, but that comes in at just 36%. The wasteful spending actually wins the plurality here, at 42%,” Enten said on CNN.
However, not all polls demonstrate strong support for DOGE. PolitiFact reported that a Harvard-Harris poll showed 72% support for a government agency focused on efficiency, but DOGE was not specifically mentioned. Other surveys have shown mixed or negative public opinions regarding Musk’s involvement in the Trump administration, especially concerning DOGE’s access to sensitive information.
The CBS News/YouGov poll also revealed a division among Americans on the effects of workforce reductions. Republicans viewed the reductions as enhancing efficiency, while Democrats considered them as eliminating vital roles and consolidating Trump’s power.
Regarding federal workforce reductions, 52% believed Musk and DOGE wielded excessive influence, 15% thought it was insufficient, and 33% felt it was appropriate. The Trump administration has justified the reductions, emphasizing the need for the most capable individuals willing to advance the America First agenda.
The Washington Post reports that DOGE, supported by Musk and his allies, has defended its agency downsizing efforts by focusing on fraud, waste, and abuse in government spending. President Trump echoed this sentiment, suggesting substantial “fraud” in programs like Social Security.
Nevertheless, independent watchdogs and analysts cited by the Washington Post argue that Musk and Trump are making broad claims of fraud to gain political support for major spending cuts. While fraudulent spending exists, much of what Musk and his allies label as “fraud” may simply be disagreements over program value or purpose.
Despite President Trump’s overall low economic approval ratings, the favorable polling results for Musk and DOGE indicate that many Americans responded positively to specific initiatives aimed at reducing perceived governmental waste in February.
While there appears to be public support for DOGE’s objectives, the public remains largely uncertain about which programs might be impacted by the proposed trillion-dollar spending cuts. Surveys show Americans are divided on whether these cuts will enhance or impair government services.
Fast forward to April 2025: A Washington Post-ABC News-Ipsos poll, released on April 25, indicates that 35% of Americans approve of the tech billionaire’s management of DOGE. Meanwhile, 57% disapprove, an increase from the 49% who viewed Musk negatively in February.
Support for Musk’s performance has remained steady at 34% over the past two months. However, the poll shows he is less popular than Trump, who holds a 39% approval rating and a 55% disapproval rating according to the Post’s survey.
Musk’s support has declined significantly among most groups, including independents, young adults under 30, and those without college degrees.
The findings underscore Americans’ views on the extensive federal budget cuts the Trump administration seeks to implement. At the same time, Musk announced plans to step back from DOGE to focus more on managing Tesla, his electric car company.
Most Americans believe that waste in the federal government has either remained the same (31%) or increased (25%) under Trump, while 43% think it has decreased. Opinions on fraud are nearly evenly split: 34% believe it has risen during Trump’s presidency, 32% say it has declined, and 34% feel it has stayed the same.
About 60% of Americans think the president is overreaching in his efforts to reduce the federal government through staff reductions. Meanwhile, Trump’s proposal to eliminate the Department of Education remains unpopular, with 66% of Americans opposing the move. The majority also disapprove of the administration’s cuts to federal funding for medical research, which have been part of its response to U.S. colleges and universities. Only 21% of Americans support these cuts, while 77% are against them.
The survey polled 2,464 adults between April 18 and 22, with a margin of error of plus or minus 2 percentage points.
