Record-High Concern About Federal Power

Tuesday, October 21, 2025

View in Browser

The voice of the world in numbers

Oct. 21, 2025

Welcome to Front Page, Gallup's indispensable intelligence distilled into five charts that give leaders the insights they need to make their most important decisions.

1. Record-High Concern About Federal Power

Line Chart: Americans' views of federal government power, 2002-2025.

The Data: Sixty-two percent of Americans say the federal government has too much power.

The Trend: This new high surpasses the previous peak of 60% recorded during Barack Obama's term. Since 2005, no less than 50% of Americans have said the government has too much power, with the sentiment averaging 55%. The increase to this year's record high is driven by a surge in Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents feeling this way, while Republican concern has declined.

Line Chart: Americans' views of federal government power, by party.

The Data: Sixty-six percent of Democrats and Democratic leaners now say the federal government has too much power — a dramatic rise from 25% a year ago and exceeding the peak of 50% who felt this way in President Trump's first term and 59% under George W. Bush.

Historical Context: This shift marks the first time since 2003-2007 that Democrats have outpaced Republicans in expressing concern about government overreach. The increase follows a highly active start to Trump's second term, including a record-high number of executive orders and other unilateral actions. Still, Democrats' concern remains below the 74% to 82% of Republicans who said the same during the Obama and Biden administrations.

Multiple Line Chart: Ratings of six U.S. agencies down significantly since 2024.

The Data: Six key federal agencies — including FEMA, the CIA and CDC — saw six- to 20-point declines in their public job performance ratings over the past year, putting all but one (the IRS) at their record lows.

One Agency Improving: The job rating of the sole agency that has seen a significant improvement in its “excellent/good” score this year, the Department of Homeland Security, is up 10 points to 42% from last year's record low, but it remains well below the high of 59% in 2017.

Split bar Chart: American's ratings of U.S. agencies.

The Data: This year, Gallup asked Americans to rate the job performance of 17 major U.S. agencies. The U.S. Postal Service ranks highest, with 56% rating it as excellent or good, while the Department of Veterans Affairs ranks lowest, with just 25% viewing its performance positively.

More Detail: The USPS has consistently ranked among the top-rated federal agencies since its debut in Gallup's government agency assessments in 2014. It is the only agency this year with majority-positive ratings.

Line Chart: Perceived need for a third major political party.

The Data: Sixty-two percent of U.S. adults say the Republican and Democratic Parties do such a poor job of representing the American people that a third major party is needed. Just 30% believe the two parties do an adequate job.

The Trend: Only once in Gallup's trend, in the initial 2003 reading, has the majority (56%) said the two parties are doing an adequate job; on two occasions (in 2008 and 2012), the viewpoints were tied. In all other readings, belief that a third party is needed has outpaced contentment with the existing two.