New Partnership for Public Service data shows 17 percentage point increase in public awareness of Trump administration cuts to federal workers and programs 

October 6, 2025

Online poll conducted in mid-September, before the government shutdown, found nearly half of Americans say either they or someone they know have been personally impacted   

WASHINGTON – The nonpartisan, nonprofit Partnership for Public Service today released the results of a new online poll that found even before the shutdown, the number of Americans who had personally noticed the impacts of the Trump administration’s cuts to the federal workforce and government programs sharply increased over the past six months. 

According to a survey fielded by the Partnership from Sept. 12-15, 2025 of Republican, Democrat and Independent respondents, nearly half (46%) say they or someone they know have been personally impacted by the government cuts, compared to less than one-third (29%) from a similar Partnership poll conducted in March.  

Results also show a particularly prevalent impact among younger adults, with six in 10 respondents between the ages of 18 to 24 reporting that they know someone affected, versus only 33% of adults ages 65 and above.  

“This data underscores just how many aspects of American life have been upended by the Trump administration’s cuts to our government,” said Max Stier, the Partnership’s president and CEO. “It’s alarming how quickly and broadly the impacts of these changes have spread, and that’s before the government shutdown and the official departures of thousands of workers through the deferred resignation programs.” 

Stier added: “It’s the next generation that will pay the steepest price for this reckless disregard for our government’s role to keep us safe and address big challenges. It is imperative that our elected officials come together now to reopen the government and preserve its mission to serve and protect the American people, not treat it as a game board for political fights.”   

The online survey of 1,000 Americans was conducted by the Partnership using a panel maintained by Prodege. The Partnership used quota sampling techniques to resemble the demographic makeup of the United States. 

To learn more about how the Trump administration’s efforts to dismantle federal institutions, funding streams and infrastructure are disrupting critical public services and agency work, check out the Partnership’s Federal Harms Tracker.  

For more information about how the government shutdown will impact federal employees and the public, visit the Partnership’s government shutdown resource hub.  

During the past 24 years, the nonpartisan, nonprofit Partnership for Public Service has been dedicated to building a better government and a stronger democracy. We work across administrations to help transform the way government works by providing agencies with the data insights they need to succeed, developing effective leaders, inspiring the next generation to public service, facilitating smooth presidential transitions and recognizing exceptional federal employees.    

Visit ourpublicservice.org, follow us @PublicService and subscribe today to get the latest federal news, information on upcoming Partnership programs and events, and more.  

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