Americans across the ideological spectrum agree our political system is corrupt, but they are divided on how big a part the bureaucracy plays in that corruption.
WHY IT MATTERS
The Trump administration is pursuing major reductions in the federal workforce in part to weed out corruption and improve performance. The results show there is openness to this approach.
HOW TO USE THIS DATA
Advocates for fighting corruption in the bureaucracy can use these results as a framework for explaining the administration’s federal workforce reductions and the actions of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
Click on the image below to read the full report…or read the summary below.
A Corrupt Political System
- 84% of voters agree we have a corrupt political system, including 48% who “strongly agree.” This includes 86% of Republicans, 82% of Democrats, and 86% of independents.
- 81% of voters say the corrupt political system is a big obstacle to getting America moving in the right direction. This includes 83% of Republicans, 77% of Democrats, and 82% of independents.
Ideological Division on Corruption in Bureaucracy
- 68% say the bureaucracy (government workers, paperwork, and regulations) are a major or significant part of the corrupt political system. This includes 82% of Republicans, 56% of Democrats, and 63% of independents.
- Target voters agree the bureaucracy is a major part of the corruption, including 69% of voters who approve of Trump policies but didn’t choose the Republican on the generic ballot, and 69% of New Majority voters who are undecided voters who are undecided or leaning on the generic ballot.
- Left minority voters are divided. 44% say the bureaucracy is a major or significant part of the corruption while 45% say it is a smaller or not at all a part of the corruption.
Needing a Major Overhaul
- 57% of voters say the bureaucracy needs a major overhaul compared to 35% who say it needs a few targeted fixes. This includes 72% of Republicans, 43% of Democrats, and 55% of independents.
- The ideological divide is significant. 66% of New Majority voters say the bureaucracy needs a major overhaul, while 54% of Left Minority voters say it needs a few targeted fixes.
Moving Quickly and Making Mistakes Better Than Moving Too Slowly
- 58% agree with the statement, “To fight corruption and improve government performance, it is better to move quickly and correct mistakes along the way than to move too slowly to make a difference.” This includes 76% of Republicans, 47% of Democrats, and 48% of independents.
- The ideological divide is again significant. 67% of New Majority voters agree with the statement compared with just 34% of Left Minority voters.