Public Favorability Drops for Major Federal Agencies
A new Gallup poll shows declining approval ratings for the Pentagon and the Department of Homeland Security.
Updated on Oct. 15, 2026 in Law Enforcement
Live Poll
Do you generally trust the performance and purpose of major federal government agencies today?
Public favorability for the Pentagon and the Department of Homeland Security has fallen among U.S. adults. This decline comes as perceptions of several federal agencies remain low.
Why it matters
The recent findings reflect shifting public trust in major federal institutions. Understanding these favorability metrics provides insight into the national perspective on government agencies.
The Pentagon currently holds a 40% favorability rating, while the Department of Homeland Security stands at 36%. Both the State Department and the Justice Department are viewed favorably by 27% of Americans.
The players
Gallup
Gallup is an American analytics and advisory company known for its public opinion polling on a wide variety of social and political issues.
Pentagon
The Pentagon serves as the headquarters of the United States Department of Defense and coordinates all branches of the U.S. Armed Forces.
Department of Homeland Security
The Department of Homeland Security is a cabinet-level agency responsible for public security, including border control and emergency preparedness.
The details
The survey results reveal that the FDA and the CDC received the lowest favorability scores among the agencies polled. Despite the recent drop, the Department of Homeland Security maintains a higher approval rating than it held at the end of 2024.
Timeline
Favorability ratings for DHS were recorded throughout 2024.
The 2025 period serves as the primary comparison baseline.
Gallup released the poll results in October 2026.
Legal Context
This decline follows a pattern set by the Gallup historical trends on public trust in government. These figures suggest a consistent cooling of public sentiment toward federal authority across the current decade.
Lower public favorability often prompts federal agencies to reassess their transparency and community outreach strategies to regain public confidence. These perceptions may also influence how citizens interact with or trust federal personnel during local law enforcement operations.
The takeaway
Public sentiment toward government agencies serves as a critical indicator of national stability. Readers should monitor these recurring polls to understand how institutional policy changes affect public trust over time.
Further reading
For broader trends on institutional oversight, see the Law Enforcement section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Semafor.
Live Poll
Do you generally trust the performance and purpose of major federal government agencies today?
