Veterans Say Politicians Leave Them Behind

A Common Defense poll of 731 service members, veterans and military families reports widespread concern over politicization and military life.

Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Military

Clean editorial illustration of a lone flagpole with a limp folded flag against a pale open sky, in deep red and cream. — A Common Defense poll found 79% of veterans and service members believe politicians and society are leaving military families behind. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Live Poll

Do you think politicians are leaving veterans and military families behind?

A Common Defense poll conducted September 15-18, 2025 found 79% of veterans and service members believe politicians and society are leaving veterans and military families behind. The survey of 731 active-duty service members, veterans, and military families carries a margin of error of plus or minus 4%.

Why it matters

The findings point to strain within the military community over politicization and policy uncertainty, with 53% of active-duty respondents saying they want to separate sooner for that reason. The results offer a measure of how service members and families view their standing with political leaders and the public.

The Common Defense Civic Engagement poll of 731 respondents, conducted September 15-18, 2025, carries a margin of error of plus or minus 4%. Roughly 50% of respondents disapproved of Trump as commander-in-chief, while 47% approved, and 45% said policy uncertainty made them consider separating sooner.

The players

Common Defense

Common Defense is an advocacy organization focused on veterans and military families, and its Civic Engagement arm conducted the survey.

The details

Common Defense released the poll results in late October, reporting that 44% of respondents cited the quality of housing or base facilities and 44% cited leadership and unit culture as factors affecting their time in service. The poll asked a range of questions about military life and politics, and the survey results were published without stated explanation of their causes.

September 15-18, 2025: Common Defense conducted the poll of 731 respondents.
Late October 2025: Common Defense released the poll results.

Political Context

Common Defense Civic Engagement's poll is a documented measure of how active-duty members, veterans, and military families view political decisions affecting them. Its findings on politicization and policy uncertainty place the service member perspective within the ongoing public debate over civilian control and military policy.

Service members weighing whether to separate early may factor in housing quality, unit culture, and policy uncertainty, which the poll identified as concerns for many respondents. Veterans and military families can use these findings to understand how their peers view current conditions.

The takeaway

The poll shows that concerns about politicization and base conditions weigh on many current service members, and that these factors may influence decisions about staying in the military. Readers interested in the military community's outlook can use these findings as a reference point for ongoing debate.