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A2 U.S. NEWS
Thursday 16 January 2025
Few U.S. adults confident Justice Department and FBI will act fairly

under Trump, AP-NORC poll finds

By AMELIA THOMSON-DE- ministration prepares to
VEAUX take control, Republicans
Associated Press are split on whether the
WASHINGTON (AP) — As DOJ and the FBI will remain
President-elect Donald neutral. Only about one-
Trump’s pick for attorney quarter of Republicans are
general, Pam Bondi, pre- at least “very” confident
pares for questioning from that the agencies will be-
senators on Wednesday, have in a nonpartisan way,
only about 2 in 10 U.S. adults while about 4 in 10 are
are “extremely” or “very” “somewhat” confident and
confident that the Depart- roughly one-third are “not
ment of Justice will act in a very” or “not at all” confi-
fair and nonpartisan man- dent. Their uncertainty may
ner during his second term, reflect the fact that the
a poll finds. nation’s law enforcement
Their faith in the neutral- agencies have been heav-
ity of the FBI is similarly low, ily criticized over the last
according to the poll from few years by Trump and his
The Associated Press-NORC allies, including by Bondi,
Center for Public Affairs the former Florida attorney
Research, which was con- general, and Kash Patel,
ducted before the begin- his choice to lead the FBI.
ning of the confirmation In one radio appearance,
hearings for Trump’s Cabi- The FBI headquarters building is seen in Washington, Dec. 7, 2024. Associated Press Bondi described special
net. Even some Republi- counsel Jack Smith, who
cans express uncertainty nominees are more nega- as top health official. His over the next four years, who charged Trump in two
in the Justice Department tive than positive, although confirmation hearings have according to the poll. federal cases, and other
and the FBI, suggesting many don’t have an opin- not been scheduled. About half of Americans prosecutors who have
that even once they take ion about the people he’s Doubts about law enforce- are “not very” or “not at all” charged Trump as “hor-
office, Trump and his al- selected for his Cabinet. ment agencies’ fairness confident that the Justice rible” people she said were
lies may find it challenging However, one of Trump’s Trump has selected loyal- Department and the FBI will trying to make names for
to restore trust in the law more controversial nomi- ists to lead the Department act in a fair and nonparti- themselves by “going after
enforcement agencies nees, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., of Justice and the FBI af- san manner during Trump’s Donald Trump and weap-
they’ve heavily criticized. is still broadly popular with ter threatening to retaliate second term, while about onizing our legal system.”
Adding to the doubts about Republicans, according to against perceived adver- one-third are “somewhat” Patel, meanwhile, has
the incoming Trump admin- the poll. Kennedy, the scion saries. Relatively few Ameri- confident and about 2 in 10 called for dramatic chang-
istration, the poll also finds of a Democratic dynasty cans are confident that are “extremely” or “very” es to the FBI, including re-
that Americans’ views of and a prominent vaccine these agencies will act in a confident. ducing its footprint and
several of his highest-profile skeptic, has been tapped fair and impartial manner Even as a new GOP ad- authority.q

U.S. population projections shrink from last year because of

declining birth rates, less immigration

By MIKE SCHNEIDER cades. In the next 10 years, 2055, the budget office of what it was from 1975 happens at a rate of 2.1
Associated Press the yearly growth rate in said. to 2024. Without immigra- births per woman.
The Congressional Budget the United States will be The overall yearly growth tion, the U.S. population will The Congressional Budget
Office has shrunk its projec- on average, 0.4% but then rate over the next three de- shrink starting in 2033 in part Office releases population
tions for the U.S. population it slows down on average cades, 0.2%, is projected “because fertility rates are projections each year to
in 30 years to 372 million to 0.1% between 2036 and to be less than a quarter projected to remain too guide decisions on the fed-
residents, a 2.8% drop from low for a generation to re- eral budgets and the econ-
last year, citing declining place itself,” the Congres- omy as well as estimating
birth rates and less expect- sional Budget Office said. Social Security payroll taxes
ed immigration. The reduced projections and benefits.
The budget office last from last year were the The Congressional Budget
year projected 383 million results of a decline in pro- Office’s projections are
people living in the United jected fertility rates over higher than those made
States in 30 years but re- 30 years from 1.70 births by the U.S. Census Bureau.
duced that figure by 11 mil- per woman to 1.60 births The Census Bureau counts
lion residents in projections per woman and less im- the resident population,
released this week. The U.S. migration because of an while the CBO projects in-
had an estimated 341 mil- executive order last June cludes the resident popula-
lion residents on New Years’ that temporarily suspends tion as well as U.S. citizens
Day and is expected to asylum processing at the and others living abroad
grow to 350 million people border when U.S. offi- who are eligible for those
by year’s end. cials deem they are over- benefits. The CBO’s projec-
Population growth will slow People stand in Times Square in New York, Aug. 9, 2024. whelmed, the budget of- tions also predict higher
over the next three de- Associated Press fice said. Replacement immigration.q