The perpetual challenge for lawmakers is that although U.S. adults mostly think the government isn't spending enough on key issues and programs, they are broadly in favor of cuts to the federal budget. AP-NORC polling from March 2023 found that 6 in 10 U.S. adults said the U.S. government was spending “too much” overall.

According to polls from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research, U.S adults mostly think the government isn't spending enough on key issues and programs. But conversely – and the biggest challenge for lawmakers – Americans are broadly in favor of cuts to the federal budget.