Americans’ Views of Government’s Role: Persistent Divisions and Areas of Agreement
Most Biden supporters favor a bigger government with a strong social safety net. Trump backers generally take the opposing view.
Government Spending & the Deficit
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Government Spending & the Deficit
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Biden, Trump supporters both say the U.S. economic system unfairly favors powerful interests
Trump and Biden supporters share a fair amount of common ground when it comes to criticisms of the U.S. economic system.
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Congress has long struggled to pass spending bills on time
Congress has passed all its required appropriations measures on time only four times in nearly five decades.
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What the data says about food stamps in the U.S.
On average, 42.4 million people in 22.7 million households received monthly SNAP benefits through the first eight months of the 2025 fiscal year.
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Inflation, Health Costs, Partisan Cooperation Among the Nation’s Top Problems
Democrats hold the edge on many issues, but more Americans agree with Republicans on the economy, crime and immigration. Inflation remains the top concern for Republicans and Republican-leaning independents, with 77% saying it is a very big problem. For Democrats and Democratic leaners, gun violence is the top concern, with about 81% saying it is a very big problem.
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5 facts about the U.S. national debt
Private investors are the biggest holders of national debt – $24.4 trillion as of March 2025 – followed by federal trust funds and retirement programs.
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Economy Remains the Public’s Top Policy Priority; COVID-19 Concerns Decline Again
Americans now see reducing the budget deficit as a higher priority for the president and Congress to address than in recent years. But strengthening the economy continues to be the public’s top policy priority.
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Biden Loses Ground With the Public on Issues, Personal Traits and Job Approval
Americans show more support than opposition for two infrastructure bills; majorities favor raising taxes on large businesses and high-income households.
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The U.S. budget deficit is rising amid COVID-19, but public concern about it is falling
Response to the pandemic has pushed the federal budget higher than it’s been in decades, but Americans are slightly less concerned about the deficit than in recent years.
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Coronavirus downturn likely to add to high government debt in some countries
For some governments, the debt incurred on COVID-19 relief will add to the considerable red ink already on their ledgers before the pandemic.
