A new poll suggests Americans are split on overhauling the federal government with Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
Research by the AP-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research found that only around 3 in 10 Americans approve of the effort.
Why It Matters
President Trump's focus on reform echoes the projects of past presidents, from Franklin D. Roosevelt's Brownlow Committee to Ronald Reagan's Grace Commission. Each sought to streamline government by borrowing strategies from the private sector, often centering cost-cutting and innovation.
When he approved the creation of the DOGE in November, Trump said it would "provide advice and guidance from outside of government." Tesla CEO Elon Musk and former Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy pledged to cut billions of wasteful expenditures from the federal budget.
What to Know
The poll highlights the mixed reception to the DOGE's proposed reforms.
A mandate requiring federal employees to return to the office is one of the few policies with solid support––roughly 4 in 10 Americans back the move, and only 2 in 10 are opposed.
Other measures face greater resistance. While Musk, the world's richest man, and former DOGE co-chair Vivek Ramaswamy (now contemplating running for Governor of Ohio) previously proposed significant cuts to the federal workforce, the poll found that 4 in 10 Americans oppose eliminating federal jobs, compared to just 3 in 10 in favor. Relocating agencies outside of Washington, D.C., another proposal from Trump's team to shatter the "deep state", drew mostly neutral responses, with nearly half of Americans unsure and about a quarter in favor or opposed.
Majority Skeptical of Billionaires in Policymaking
Musk's leadership of DOGE has been a focal point of public debate. According to the poll, only about one-third of Americans view Musk favorably—a figure closely aligned with the opinions of Trump himself. Nearly half of respondents hold unfavorable views of both men. Others highlight the risks of relying on billionaires for policy advice. The poll found that 6 in 10 Americans believe consulting the world's wealthiest––Musk's wealth sits at $427.5 billion––is a "bad thing," compared to just 1 in 10 who see it as positive.
This isn't to suggest that people don't want tangible changes––about two-thirds of U.S. adults say corruption and inefficiency are "major problems" in the federal government, and roughly 6 in 10 say the same about red tape, such as government regulations and bureaucracy.
What People Are Saying
Following the election, DOGE posted to X requesting the services of "super high-IQ small-government revolutionaries willing to work 80+ hours per week" while suggesting that some positions would be unpaid.
Elon Musk himself posted to X on Tuesday that "@DOGE will greatly improve government efficiency, saving your tax dollars and ending rampant inflation."
"The way [DOGE] has been operating was under a shroud of secrecy with a number of concerns," said Skye Perryman, CEO of Democracy Forward, a national legal organization that often challenged the first Trump administration in court and is serving as counsel to the plaintiffs a new lawsuit regarding the department's transparency. "It continues to have a range of legal problems."
"Nobody disputes that there is a huge amount of wasteful spending in the federal government," Kel McClanahan, executive director of National Security Counselors, told Newsweek in an email this week. "
"Our only concern is that DOGE, as it is currently constituted, lacks the expertise to understand how its recommendations will backfire if it pushes federal workers out without understanding why they are there in the first place."
"Government work is not corporate work, and any recommendations made without that perspective are doomed to fail," he said.
What's Happens Next
As DOGE begins its work, Trump and Musk face the challenge of persuading a skeptical public to embrace their vision. Historically, most presidential efficiency drives have faced significant obstacles, particularly when requiring legislative approval or funding for reforms. The department's future success may hinge on congressional support and public buy-in.
This article includes reporting from The Associated Press
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