Voters Across Party Lines, Age Groups, Gender, Race, and Educational Status Oppose Efforts to Pay for Tax Cuts for Billionaires and Big Corporations on the Backs of Students and Working Families with Student Debt
February 11, 2025 | WASHINGTON, D.C. — As Congressional Republicans unveil their budget proposals to slash vital programs to pay for tax cuts for the ultra-wealthy, a new poll shows a majority of likely voters oppose cuts to the student loan safety net and other critical resources that students and working families rely on to help pay for college. Voters across party lines oppose Republican lawmakers’ efforts to eliminate income-based repayment options for student loan borrowers; fewer than 1-in-6 Democrats, 1-in-4 independents, and 1-in-3 Republicans back the GOP’s plan to gut this crucial lifeline.
The poll also reveals a clear mandate from voters across party, age and educational lines to protect access to federal grants and student loan programs—including Pell Grants, Parent PLUS, and Graduate PLUS loans. The poll was conducted by Data for Progress on behalf of the Student Borrower Protection Center and Groundwork Collaborative. Politico first reported on partial results of this poll on Monday, February 10.
“Congressional Republicans’ budget proposals will cut taxes for their billionaire buddies by raiding the pockets of Americans with student debt and families already struggling to pay for college,” said Aissa Canchola Bañez, Student Borrower Protection Center (SBPC) Policy Director. “This polling makes it crystal clear: voters overwhelmingly reject efforts to cut critical supports that working families rely on. Donald Trump and Republicans in both chambers talked a big game about lowering costs, but today their actions speak louder than words.”
“Voters are clear about what they want: Lower prices, better jobs, vital programs protected and expanded, and for the wealthy to pay their fair share in taxes,” said Elizabeth Pancotti, Managing Director of Policy and Advocacy for Groundwork Collaborative. “And yet, Republicans in both chambers of Congress are working overtime to achieve the exact opposite. Whether one bill or two, House and Senate GOP members are aligned on wanting to cut lifesaving programs in order to enrich their billionaire friends and donors, and voters are taking note.”
Key Findings from the Poll
Broad Opposition to Cuts to Student Financial Aid
- 63% of voters—with strong support across gender, age, race, and whether they went to college themselves—believe federal funding should ensure access to affordable higher education, easing the financial burden on students and families.
- Voters oppose decreasing Pell Grant awards, which help low-income students and families pay for college, by a more than 3-to-1 margin.
- A strong majority of voters, across gender, age, race, and educational status, oppose eliminating Parent PLUS and Graduate PLUS loans.
- Nearly two-thirds of voters oppose efforts to tax scholarship and fellowship assistance that students and families rely on to cover the cost of college.
Strong Support for Preserving Borrower Protections
- 60% of voters—including a majority of Republicans—oppose eliminating income-driven repayment options, which protect low- and middle-income borrowers from unaffordable payments and a lifetime of student debt.
- A majority of voters oppose cuts to Public Service Loan Forgiveness that would limit the number of public service employees eligible for the program.
- A majority of voters oppose limiting relief for borrowers defrauded by a scam school, and 55% oppose limiting relief for borrowers unable to work due to a disability.
- A majority of voters oppose limiting the Department of Education’s ability to provide relief to borrowers experiencing financial hardship, including 68% of Democrats and 51% of independents. This opposition spans gender, race, age, and educational status.
Further Reading
Data for Progress brief on the polling results: GOP Proposals That Cut Social Safety Net to Give Tax Breaks to the Wealthy Are Unpopular
Groundwork Collaborative press release on poll results showing opposition to tax cuts at the expense of vital programs: New Polling: Republican Plan to Gut Vital Programs, Shower Ultra-Wealthy With Tax Breaks is Unpopular With Voters
Initial release of poll results showing voters oppose abolishing the U.S. Department of Education: New Poll Confirms: Trump’s Plan to Abolish Department of Education is Extremely Unpopular Among Voters
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About Student Borrower Protection Center
Student Borrower Protection Center (SBPC) is a nonprofit organization focused on eliminating the burden of student debt for millions of Americans. We engage in advocacy, policymaking, and litigation strategy to rein in industry abuses, protect borrowers’ rights, and advance racial and economic justice.
Learn more at protectborrowers.org or follow SBPC on Twitter @theSBPC.