The U.S. faces many problems, from foreign wars to economic crises, but, according to Americans, the two most crucial issues the nation is dealing with are the federal government and immigration matters. A recent Gallup poll found that the federal government, Congress, and politicians were ranked the number one issue facing the U.S. at present, followed fairly closely by immigration and immigration policy. Overall, 29% of Americans ranked the government as the most crucial issue, 20% ranked immigration and immigration policy as the most crucial issue, and 11% ranked the economy in general as the most crucial issue. Only 8% of those polled said that inflation and affordability were the most crucial issues for the U.S.

The government’s rank as the number one issue for the U.S. has been steadily rising since President Donald Trump returned to office at the beginning of 2025, hovering in the mid-to-high-20th percentile since February of last year and peaking at 32% last month. Gallup noted that most of the discontent is being driven by Democrats. Only about one-fifth (19%) of Republicans and one-quarter (24%) of Independent voters described the government as the top issue for the U.S., as opposed to 44% of Democrats, which Gallup’s analysis noted is “effectively tied” with the high of 45% of Democrats who ranked the government as the nation’s number-one issue in the weeks after Trump’s return to the White House.

“Democrats’ strong focus on government as the top problem contrasts with smaller proportions of independents (24%) and Republicans (19%) citing the issue,” Gallup’s analysis noted. “More broadly, the sustained partisan gap in mentions of government as the top problem during Trump’s second term contrasts with the Biden years and Trump’s first term, when large party differences were more episodic.” For example, the highest percentage of Republicans citing government as the chief issue in the U.S. during former President Joe Biden’s term was 30%.

Even during Trump’s first term, Democrats only once broke the 40% mark in October of 2019. According to Gallup, Democrats consistently named Trump in their responses on the issue, while Republicans typically focused their comments on congressional Democrats and Independent voters ranged from critiquing government policies to deriding specific political figures, including Trump.

Gallup also tracked a recent rise in immigration concerns, with roughly one third (32%) of Republicans, nearly one fifth (18%) of Democrats, and 15% of Independent voters ranking immigration or immigration issues as the key issue facing the U.S. While Republican responses on the issue centered on the threat of illegal immigration and the need for border security and deportations, Democrats largely criticized federal immigration enforcement policies. The share of Republicans identifying immigration as the most crucial issue for the U.S. has fallen in recent months, down from a high of 57% in February of 2024, but concern over immigration and immigration issues has risen across party lines since January. Gallup’s record high for immigration concern is 28% among Americans overall, recorded in February of 2024.

Gallup’s data coincides with a Harvard CAPS/Harris poll that found that nearly 60% of Americans (including 79% of Republicans, 54% of Independent voters, and even 35% of Democrats) support the mass deportation of all illegal immigrants. Much higher majorities (75% overall, including 84% of Republicans, 68% of Democrats, and 72% of independent voters) support the mass deportation of illegal immigrants who have committed crimes.

“Americans’ concern about government remained historically elevated in February, driven largely by Democrats’ dissatisfaction with the current administration,” Gallup summarized of its findings. “At the same time, immigration regained prominence across party lines, though for sharply different reasons. Economic issues, while still present, receded from the forefront compared with late last year.” The survey was conducted before the U.S. strikes on Iran.