{"id":201223,"date":"2025-02-25T10:54:33","date_gmt":"2025-02-25T15:54:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/?post_type=short-read&p=201223"},"modified":"2025-02-25T10:54:35","modified_gmt":"2025-02-25T15:54:35","slug":"5-facts-about-americans-views-of-government","status":"publish","type":"short-read","link":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/short-reads\/2025\/02\/25\/5-facts-about-americans-views-of-government\/","title":{"rendered":"5 facts about Americans\u2019 views of government"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"The
(Kayla Bartkowski\/Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The new Trump administration has made reducing the size of the federal government one of its top priorities. One month in, it has sought to eliminate departments and agencies<\/a> and shrink the federal workforce<\/a>, particularly through the work of its Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) team.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These actions are taking place against a backdrop of long-standing low public trust in the federal government<\/a> and critiques of the government\u2019s responsiveness and efficiency<\/a>. Yet most Americans also want government to have a substantial role in addressing many specific areas, and in some cases have supported expanding<\/em> the role government plays. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are five facts about how Americans view their government, drawn from Pew Research Center surveys conducted in recent years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How we did this<\/summary>\n

This Pew Research Center analysis examines Americans\u2019 views of the size and scope of the federal government, as well as confidence in its employees. It is based on Center surveys conducted between 2022 and 2025. Additional information about these surveys, including their field dates, sample sizes and other methodological details, can be found by following the links in the text.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n

The public has long been divided \u2013 largely along partisan lines \u2013 over how large a role government should have.<\/strong> In April 2024, a narrow majority of the public (53%) said government should do more to solve problems, while a somewhat smaller share (46%) said government is doing too many things better left to businesses and individuals. Public opinion on this question has been relatively stable for the last several years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"LIne<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Yet Republicans and Democrats have consistently offered sharply different views about the role of government. As of last spring:<\/p>\n\n\n\n