Poll: Medicaid, SNAP Funding Popular Despite GOP Cuts/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ morning Edition/ A new AP–NORC poll finds most U.S. adults believe crucial safety-net programs—Medicaid, SNAP, Social Security, Medicare, and education—are underfunded or correctly funded, contradicting GOP-led proposals to cut these programs. Americans are most divided on military, border security, and foreign aid spending.
Poll: Americans Say Safety Net Underfunded, Not Over: Quick Looks
- Half say Medicaid is underfunded; 30% say “right amount”; few see overfunding
- SNAP/food stamps: 45% underfunded, 30% right, few think too much
- Republicans more likely to say SNAP is overfunded: 46% vs ~10% among Dems/Independents
- 60% say Social Security, Medicare, education are underfunded; few say overfunded
- Opinions split on military spending: roughly 30% too much, 30% too little, 40% right
- GOP support for more border funding dropped from 79% in January to 45% now
- 56% say foreign aid is excessive federal spending
- About 80% of Republicans and 33% of Democrats see foreign aid as overfunded
Poll: Medicaid, SNAP Funding Popular Despite GOP Cuts
Deep Look
A recent AP–NORC Center poll shows a sharp contrast between public opinion and Republican priorities on federal spending. As GOP leaders push for spending cuts, especially targeting programs like Medicaid and SNAP (food stamps), a majority of Americans believe those programs are either underfunded or correctly funded rather than excessive.
Medicaid and SNAP Seen as Underfunded
- Medicaid: Roughly 50% of adults say the program doesn’t get enough funding; about 30% believe its funding is appropriate, and only ~20% see it as overfunded.
- SNAP/food assistance: 45% say the program is underfunded, 30% say it’s at the right level, and approximately 25% think it’s overfunded.
Among Republicans, 46% say food assistance programs get too much money—far more than Democrats or independents, both hovering around 10%. For Medicaid, only about one-third of GOP respondents consider it overfunded.
Social Security, Medicare, and Education Also Viewed as Needy
A strong majority—about 60%—of respondents feel federal spending on Social Security, Medicare, and education is insufficient. Democrats overwhelmingly support more funding for these programs; Republicans are more satisfied with current levels. Only 10% of Republicans believe Social Security or Medicare are overfunded. About 50% of Republicans, however, say Social Security is underfunded, compared to 70% of Democrats.
Military and Border Spending Split Opinions
Views are mixed on these areas:
- Military: ~30% believe it’s overfunded, ~30% underfunded, and nearly 40% say it’s rightly funded.
- Border security: Republican support for increased spending has dropped to 45% from 79% in January. Meanwhile, about 50% of Democrats now think current funding is excessive.
Foreign Aid Widely Seen as Excessive
Many Americans (56%) say the government spends too much on foreign aid. That’s down from 69% in a similar AP–NORC poll in March 2023. However, opinion divides sharply by party: approximately 80% of Republicans and 33% of Democrats say foreign aid is overfunded.
Why It Matters
The poll highlights a fundamental disconnect: Republican efforts to slash funding for safety-net and domestic programs have little support among the general public. Americans prefer fortifying these systems rather than reducing them. The findings suggest GOP proposals to cut Medicaid, SNAP, Social Security, and Medicare may face backlash.
