The Gallup Organization has reported that people most frequently cite DoD as the agency most important to the future of the country, with the Department of Education cited immediately after that – particularly among younger demographics, but when asked which agency has the biggest impact on peoples’ lives, Americans most often cite the Social Security Administration.
That’s not to say views of government are at all rosy. In fact, according to a Gallup study on individual experiences with federal agencies, most people have neutral to negative views of the federal government. (Views of Congress are abysmal by comparison.)
The study was based on 41,876 responses in May-June and weighted to match specific demographic targets and population estimates. It said that while 78 percent of Americans express positive views of the military, half express neutral views regarding federal agencies, with more – 34 percent – expressing negative views than positive – 20 percent.
Gallup said that while the neutral to negative skewed views of federal agencies may mean people have not had enough experience interacting with the government to really base an opinion, those views also present “an opportunity for federal agencies to build a positive brand image” based on factors such as “impact, prestige, and most desirable employer.”