Nearly 8 in 10 likely voters say fraud in federal government spending is a serious problem, though relatively few people realize the extent of the problem, according to a Rasmussen Reports survey.

The survey found that 79% of likely voters consider fraud in federal spending programs a serious problem, including 55% who describe it as a "very serious" problem.

Just 17% said fraud in government spending is not a serious issue.

The findings come as the Trump administration and congressional Republicans intensify efforts to root out waste, fraud, and abuse across the federal government while arguing that taxpayer dollars have too often been squandered through weak oversight and bureaucratic inefficiency.

Despite widespread concern about government waste, the Rasmussen poll found many Americans may underestimate the scale of the problem.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent recently cited Government Accountability Office research estimating that fraud in federal programs could total as much as $500 billion annually.

Yet only 19% of voters said fraud exceeds $500 billion per year. Another 18% estimated the total between $250 billion and $500 billion, while 25% said fraud amounts to between $100 billion and $250 billion annually.

Twenty-one percent said the figure is less than $100 billion, and 17% said they were unsure, according to the survey results.

The survey also found overwhelming support for holding wrongdoers accountable.

Nine in 10 voters said it is important to arrest and prosecute those who commit fraud in federal spending programs, including 72% who said it is "very important."

Support for tougher enforcement crossed party lines.

Eighty percent of Republicans, 66% of Democrats, and 70% of independent voters said it is very important to prosecute those who defraud government programs.

Republicans were significantly more likely than Democrats to believe the scope of federal fraud is massive.

Forty-seven percent of Republicans estimated fraud totals at least $250 billion annually, compared with 28% of Democrats and 37% of independent voters.

The survey also found that voters who backed President Donald Trump in the 2024 election were twice as likely as former Vice President Kamala Harris voters to estimate fraud exceeds $250 billion annually.

Half of Trump voters placed fraud at or above that level, compared with just 25% of Harris voters.

The results reinforce a central Republican argument that Washington must do more to protect taxpayer dollars and eliminate wasteful spending before seeking additional revenue.

As lawmakers continue debates over government spending, entitlement programs, and federal budgets, the survey suggests Americans overwhelmingly agree on at least one point: fraud in government programs is a major problem, and those responsible should be aggressively investigated and prosecuted.

The Rasmussen Reports survey of 1,007 likely voters was conducted June 3-4 and 7 and has a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percentage points.