Americans fear Musk’s budget cuts could disrupt essential services, poll finds
A new Reuters/Ipsos poll has found that a majority of Americans are concerned that Elon Musk’s push to slash federal jobs could disrupt essential government services.
The poll revealed that 58% of respondents worry about potential delays in federal programs such as Social Security and student aid, while only 29% said they were not concerned.
Musk, the world’s richest person, was recently appointed by President Donald Trump to head the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a task force aimed at cutting government spending.
The initiative has already resulted in over 10,000 federal job cuts in two weeks, sparking backlash from Democrats and some independent voters.
Despite assurances from the White House that services will remain unaffected, the move has intensified debate over how government reductions could impact everyday Americans.
Billionaire influence in Trump’s White House raises concerns
Beyond fears of government service disruptions, the poll also highlighted growing concerns about the influence of the ultra-wealthy on Trump’s administration.
A staggering 71% of respondents agreed that billionaires have too much power in the White House, while 69% believed that the wealthy are using their connections for financial gain.
Even within Trump’s Make America Great Again (MAGA) movement, which forms the core of his support base, 44% of respondents admitted they believed the wealthiest Americans were benefiting from White House ties.
Trump has surrounded himself with billionaires in his second term, including Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, and Education Secretary Linda McMahon.
Along with Musk, Trump’s inner circle also includes some of the country’s most powerful corporate leaders, such as Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, Apple CEO Tim Cook, and Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai.
David Pepper, former chair of the Ohio Democratic Party, noted that Trump’s populist image is fading as he aligns himself more openly with corporate elites.
Donald Trump said the little guy was being screwed by the big players,” Pepper said.
Well, now the big players are firing the little guy.
Divided opinions on government cuts
The Reuters/Ipsos poll also showed that 53% of Americans oppose Musk’s cost-cutting initiative, compared to 42% who support it.
The division falls largely along partisan lines, with most Republicans backing the cuts while Democrats and independents remain skeptical.
However, 59% of respondents supported the broader idea of downsizing the federal government, including one-third of Democrats and most independents.
Nearly all Republicans backed the proposal, highlighting a general preference for reducing bureaucracy—so long as critical services are not impacted.
“If DOGE successfully saves taxpayers money without significantly cutting things they care about, this will be a political winner for the Republicans,” said Anthony Fowler, a professor of public policy at the University of Chicago.
However, some of Trump’s more aggressive cuts appear unpopular.
For example, his proposal to shutter the Department of Education was rejected by 65% of respondents, with only 30% in favor.
Potential political risks for Trump and Republicans
Analysts warn that Trump’s cost-cutting push could pose political risks if it results in real disruptions for voters.
While Trump himself cannot seek a third term, Republicans in Congress—many of whom back Musk’s initiative—will have to face voters in the 2026 midterm elections.
John Geer, a public opinion expert at Vanderbilt University, believes Trump and Musk may be misreading public sentiment.
“The underlying support for this is mixed,” Geer said.
We haven’t seen it start to hurt yet, but what happens when a disaster hits and FEMA can’t handle it? What happens when people stop getting their Social Security checks?
The political optics of Musk’s involvement have also drawn scrutiny.
His recent Oval Office appearance with Trump, which coincided with the dismissal of thousands of government employees, raised concerns about inequality and corporate influence.
“It’s terrible optics,” Geer said.
Musk, the richest man in the world, sitting next to Trump as federal workers lose their jobs—it reinforces every negative stereotype about billionaire influence in government.
White House defends cost-cutting efforts
Despite the backlash, the Trump administration has defended Musk’s role and the broader mission of DOGE.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt insisted that the initiative has broad public support.
“This is a commonsense solution to fixing a decades-old problem of bloated bureaucracy, waste, fraud, and abuse,” Leavitt said in a recent Fox News interview.
The vast majority of Americans support it.
Musk himself has remained defiant, arguing that his cost-cutting efforts are necessary for a more efficient government.
Meanwhile, Lloyd Blankfein, the former CEO of Goldman Sachs, warned that public backlash could grow if Musk’s policies start to affect essential services.
“This is a classic case of reform going too far too fast,” Blankfein said.
The White House needs to ensure it’s not cutting muscle along with the fat.
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