Worry about federal deficits has faded from public consciousness as over the past few years government shortfalls have declined, a survey published by Pew Research Center showed.
The public is less worried about the economy across the board, the survey conducted in January found. That easing of worries, however, has not improved President Obama’s approval rating, as fears about national security and terrorism have grown.
Only 56 percent of respondents said that reducing the federal deficit should be a priority for Congress, making it less of a priority than other items like improving education, strengthening Social Security and Medicare, and reducing crime.
As recently as 2013, cutting the deficit was among the top agenda items that Americans wanted to see addressed, and 72 percent rated it a top priority.
Since then, the federal deficit, which is the amount by which the government’s spending eclipses revenues, has fallen from $680 billion to $439 billion in fiscal year 2015. During the early years of Obama’s presidency, deficits exceeded $1 trillion.
This year, however, the deficit is expected to grow again, and continue growing back up to the trillion-dollar range in the years ahead.
Now, terrorism and the economy are tied for the top priority, and each were identified by 75 percent of respondents as a major concern. The economy, along with jobs, has seen a double-digit loss in interest in recent years, while fears over terrorism have grown.
Lower down on the concern scale, 51 percent of respondents wanted Congress to make dealing with immigration a first order of business, an 11 percentage-point increase in just two years. Immigration policy has played a leading role in the presidential primaries.
Similarly, the public is becoming much more interested in the government dealing with climate change. Although it’s a priority for just a minority, 38 percent, that minority has grown by 10 percentage points in recent years.
Democrats cared far more about climate change than did Republicans, one of many partisan gaps to appear in the poll. Democrats also favored prioritizing gun policy. Republicans, on the other hand, were more concerned about terrorism, strengthening the military and addressing immigration.
Pew surveyed 2,009 adults across the country for its report.
