A new Washington Post-ABC News-Ipsos poll reveals that American public opinion is souring on Elon Musk’s role in President Donald Trump’s administration, particularly regarding efforts to slash federal government spending.
Only 35 percent of respondents approve of Musk’s handling of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), the Trump-era initiative aimed at cutting fraud, waste, and unnecessary spending, while 57 percent disapprove. That disapproval has risen sharply from 49 percent just two months ago.
Musk’s approval rating has held steady at around 34–35 percent, but his popularity has slipped across key groups, including independents, young adults under 30, and non-college-educated Americans. Despite the criticism, the White House defended Musk’s work, with spokesperson Anna Kelly stating that the administration is “delivering on the American people’s mandate to eliminate wasteful spending.”
The poll also found that most Americans are skeptical about the success of the government’s cost-cutting efforts. While 43 percent believe waste has decreased under Trump, 56 percent feel it has either stayed the same or increased. On the issue of fraud, public opinion is evenly split.
However, Trump’s broader plans to reduce the size of government, including mass layoffs, are facing stiff opposition. Nearly 60 percent believe the president is going too far, and a striking 66 percent oppose his proposal to shut down the Department of Education. Additionally, cuts to federal medical research funding are deeply unpopular, with 77 percent opposing them and just 21 percent in favor.
The survey, conducted between April 18 and 22 among 2,464 adults, has a margin of error of plus or minus 2 percentage points.