The fact that about half the country says they are noticing the impact suggests the issue is not just an inside-the-Beltway story. Image: Christopher Penler/Shutterstock.com
By: FEDweek StaffNearly half, 46 percent, of respondents to a survey say that government cutbacks under the Trump administration have affected them personally or have impacted someone they know, compared with just 29 percent in a similar survey conducted in March by the Partnership for Public Service.
That is now only two points below the 48 percent who said in a survey conducted in September—just before the shutdown—that they have seen no such impact. Just under half similarly now say that the cuts have made their community worse and separately say the cuts have made their own life worse.
“The fact that about half the country says they are noticing the impact suggests the issue is not just an inside-the-Beltway story. Rather, people around the country see how such changes are affecting their communities and lives. Because the reductions and changes to federal personnel and funding are ongoing, the full effects of these actions may not be known for a long time,” the Partnership said.
“Most survey participants cited negative effects such as federal employees throughout the country losing their jobs or the decreasing access to government benefits. However, a small portion felt the changes were positive, citing reductions in wasteful government spending and lowering prices as examples,” it said.
While about equal shares of both Republicans and Democrats now have noticed the impact, views about the changes to the government are sharply divided, with 82 percent in favor among Republicans vs. only 15 percent among Democrats and 33 percent among Independents. That’s little changed from the earlier poll.
Further, even among those supportive of cuts to the government in general, support across both polls was lower regarding cuts to specific agencies and programs. In both, nearly two-thirds said they are at least somewhat concerned about the loss of expertise and knowledge from the decrease of federal employees.
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