![]() ![]() Bush’s second term, since as many as a third of Americans said they trusted the federal government at least most of the time. In fact, it has been more than a decade, during George W. These attitudes have changed little over the last two administrations. The survey finds that Americans’ trust in the federal government remains at a historic low: Just 17% say they trust the government in Washington to do the right thing always or most of the time 71% say they trust the government only some of the time and 10% volunteer that they “never” trust the government. Republican-leaning independents prefer a smaller government with fewer services, while 67% of Democrats and Democratic leaners say they would rather have a bigger government with more services. Opinions about the optimal size of government continue to be deeply divided along partisan lines: 74% of Republicans and These views have changed little since 2017, but for several years prior to that, more Americans preferred smaller government to bigger government. While Americans support increased government spending in a number of areas, they continue to be divided in preferences regarding the overall size of government: 47% say they would rather have a smaller government with fewer services, while an identical share prefers a bigger government with more services. And 64% of Democrats favor more government spending on rebuilding highways, bridges and roads, while a majority of Republicans (57%) also support this. Identical shares in both parties (72% of Republicans and Democrats) say spending on veterans benefits should be increased. Yet veterans benefits and infrastructure continue to stand out as areas in which partisans generally agree. Republicans and Democrats continue to have deep differences over increased government spending in most areas, including health care, environmental protection, aid to the unemployed and military defense. Over the past six years, public concern about the budget deficit also has declined substantially. In most cases, the public’s views on government spending have changed little since 2017, but there is considerably more support for increased spending in several areas now than in 2013. But for both programs, somewhat fewer want to cut spending than increase it (28% favor decreased spending on foreign aid, 23% on aid to the unemployed). About six-in-ten (62%) support more government spending for rebuilding the nation’s highways, bridges and roads, while 55% each favor more funding for Medicare and environmental protection.īy comparison, only about a third favor increased funding for aid to needy people around the world (35%) and assistance to the unemployed in the United States (31%). The survey by Pew Research Center, conducted March 20-25 among 1,503 adults, finds that across all 13 programs, most either want to increase spending or maintain it at current levels.Īs in the past, there is extensive public support for increasing federal funding for veterans benefits and education (72% each). ![]() Asked about 13 different government program areas, from veterans benefits to foreign aid, no more than about a quarter favor reducing spending in any specific area. When Americans are asked to make up the budget for the federal government, they have little appetite for austerity measures. ![]()
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