Poll: VA the least-liked federal agency
Americans like the Post Office, NASA and the Secret Service, but aren't thrilled by the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Environmental Protection Agency and the Food and Drug Administration.
For the fourth time running, the Department of Veterans Affairs ranks as the least-liked federal agency in a Gallup poll.
The U.S. Postal Service was picked as the most-liked for the third straight time.
Gallup's analysis found partisan gaps in the way Americans view agencies, with Republicans more positive about the Department of Homeland Security and the Environmental Protection Agency (under its current management) and Democrats leaning toward the FBI.
Some agencies didn't spark partisan feelings. Americans are warmly disposed toward NASA and take a somewhat dim view of the IRS regardless of party affiliation. The IRS, however, saw its reputation improve from the 27% approval it generated in 2013.
Republicans are more inclined to see the VA as doing an excellent or good job than Democrats, but fewer than half of either group offered a positive rating for the veterans' agency.
Overall, 39% of respondents to the Gallup poll were positive about the VA's performance, while 59% said the agency was doing a fair or poor job. The EPA, the Food and Drug Administration and the Federal Reserve Board are also underwater in terms of favorability.
On the positive side, 74% of respondents said the USPS was doing a good or excellent job. The Secret Service, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the CIA and NASA each garnered better than 60% approval.
Gallup's poll was based on telephone interviews of a random sample of 1,024 adults conducted in late April. The company has polled Americans on their views of federal agencies since 2003, with recent surveys in 2014, 2017 and 2018.