Poll: Republicans’ Budget Plan

TOPLINES | GRAPHS

This Navigator Research report covers the latest perceptions of Trump and Republicans’ proposed budget plan, specifically awareness and opposition to the plan.

Perceptions of the Republican Budget Plan

By 15 points, Americans oppose the Republican budget bill (33 percent support – 48 percent oppose). This is an increase from May when support for the bill was underwater by 9 points (36 percent support – 45 percent oppose). Still, 19 percent do not know enough to rate whether they support or oppose the budget, including 36 percent of independents.

Despite the potential impacts of the bill, just a quarter of Americans — 24 percent — say they have seen, read, or heard a lot about Republicans in Congress’ proposed budget plan. A third of independents (35 percent) and passive news consumers (32 percent) say they have seen, read, or heard “nothing” about the bill.

Opposition to the bill is stronger when it is called “Republicans in Congress’ proposed budget Plan” compared to “One Big Beautiful Bill Act.” This is not because “One Big Beautiful Bill” has higher support, but rather because fewer people know what it is. Calling it the Republican Budget boosts both awareness and negativity toward the bill.

You can find more guidance on how to talk about Republican’s budget bill here.

Medicaid

Democrats in Congress maintain a trust advantage when it comes to health care, Medicaid, Medicare, and Social Security. On Medicaid, Democrats are more trusted than Republicans by 17 points. Democrats hold a 15-point advantage on health care broadly. On Social Security and Medicare, Americans trust Democrats more than Republicans by a 14-point margin.

Americans are concerned about both the loss of health care coverage and rising health care costs as a result of the Republican budget bill, but emphasizing the loss of coverage elicits more intense concern.

A majority of all Americans, including Republicans, say they are concerned that “the proposed Republican budget includes cuts to health care, including Medicaid, that would mean that millions of Americans, including seniors in nursing homes and hundreds of thousands of kids, could lose their health care coverage.”

• Republicans: 30% very concerning.
• Non-MAGA Republicans: 46% very concerning.
• Independents: 55% very concerning.

Americans are also concerned that “the proposed Republican budget includes cuts to health care, including Medicaid, that would mean that millions of Americans could see their health care costs increase significantly.” However, pointing out increases in costs draws less intensity than the loss of health care.

• Republicans: 24% very concerning.
• Non-MAGA Republicans: 39% very concerning.
• Independents: 50% very concerning.

Reminder: Medicaid remains overwhelmingly popular, and the best reason to protect Medicaid is: providing health care coverage to people who can’t afford it, seniors, and kids.

• Three-quarters of Americans view Medicaid favorably, including 71 percent of independents and 68 percent of Republicans. When asked who benefits most from Medicaid, most cite those who are low-income or disabled.
• The top reasons to protect Medicaid are:
  • Medicaid provides health care coverage to people who can’t afford it (48 percent top three),
  • Millions of Americans could lose their health care coverage from Medicaid cuts (40 percent top three); and,
  • Medicaid covers nearly half of all kids and 60% of residents in nursing homes (37 percent top three).
• Medicaid cuts are a dealbreaker for most Americans—71 percent say they could not support an elected official who voted to cut Medicaid, including 55 percent who say they definitely could not support someone with this position.

You can find more guidance on how to talk about proposed cuts to Medicaid here.