By Steve Neavling
As President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for attorney general, Pam Bondi, gears up for her Senate confirmation hearings on Wednesday, a new poll reveals that only about 2 in 10 Americans have “extreme” or “very” high confidence in the Department of Justice’s ability to operate fairly and without bias during Trump’s second term.
Public trust in the FBI is similarly shaky, according to a survey conducted by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. The poll, completed before the start of the confirmation hearings for Trump’s Cabinet, highlights skepticism even among some Republicans. This underscores the challenge Trump and his allies may face in rebuilding faith in the law enforcement institutions they have frequently criticized.
The survey also reveals widespread reservations about Trump’s high-profile Cabinet picks. While many Americans have yet to form opinions about the appointees, overall impressions are more negative than positive, signaling unease as the new administration takes shape.
One notable exception is Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a nominee who remains popular with Republican voters despite his controversial views. Known for his strong stance against vaccines and hailing from a prominent Democratic family, Kennedy has been chosen for a leading health position. His confirmation hearings have yet to be scheduled, but his nomination remains a point of interest.
Concerns over the impartiality of law enforcement agencies persist as Trump installs loyalists to head key departments, including the Justice Department and the FBI. These appointments follow Trump’s repeated threats of retribution against perceived opponents, fueling apprehensions about the agencies’ fairness.
The poll indicates that about half of Americans are either “not very” or “not at all” confident that the DOJ and FBI will operate impartially during Trump’s next term. Around one-third of respondents express “somewhat” confidence, while only 2 in 10 feel “extremely” or “very” confident in the agencies’ neutrality.
Even within the Republican Party, opinions are divided over whether the Justice Department and FBI will act without bias. Only a quarter of Republicans report being “very” confident in the agencies’ fairness, while approximately 4 in 10 are “somewhat” confident. Notably, one-third of Republicans remain skeptical, expressing little to no faith in the agencies’ impartiality.
