From the Heart of American Families: Assessing Mothers' Views on Recent Policy Actions
In-depth

This report presents mothers’ views on early federal policy actions under the 2025 Administration, drawing on survey responses from 2,888 mothers across the United States collected between April and June 2025. Mothers rated their level of satisfaction and shared open-ended reflections based on lived experience. Findings reveal low overall approval, with economic pressures emerging as the dominant driver of dissatisfaction across political and regional lines.

The public report is available below.
Comprehensive data tables, full methodology documentation, and researcher briefings are available to institutional partners, journalists, and credentialed researchers. For access, request a briefing below.
July 15, 2025
Related themes:
No items found.
  • Economic pressures unite mothers across ideologies:
    Rising costs—particularly for childcare, groceries, and healthcare—were the most frequently cited sources of dissatisfaction, cutting across political affiliation and region.
  • Regional and ideological variation exists but does not offset overall discontent:
    Moderate mothers in the North showed relatively higher approval, while mothers in the West reported the lowest satisfaction and those in the South the highest—though views remained mixed in every region.
  • Strong opinions reflect perceived real-world impacts:
    Most mothers expressed clear approval or disapproval rather than neutral views, with low ratings driven by concerns about the economy, civil rights, and public education.
  • Policy priorities differ among supporters:
    Among mothers who expressed high approval—particularly Republican mothers—support was most often linked to immigration policy and alignment with conservative values.
  • Low overall approval:
    Fewer than 1 in 4 mothers (22%) rated the Administration’s early policy actions favorably, while more than 70% expressed strong dissatisfaction, indicating broad concern across a nationally representative sample.

Research Library

Explore Count on Mothers reports — rapid polls and in-depth national studies.
To learn more about partnerships, visit Partner With Us

Methodology
Count on Mothers conducts nationwide surveys and qualitative research with U.S. mothers. Findings are analyzed and reported in aggregate to inform research publications and decision-making related to families.
In-depth

New Bipartisan Paid Leave Bill Framework

In February 2024, Count on Mothers surveyed 722 Mothers from 48 states across the political spectrum on their views of the House Bipartisan Paid Leave Working Group Legislative Framework. Mothers contributed perspectives grounded in firsthand experience with unpaid and limited paid leave. Findings were shared with the House Bipartisan Working Group, policymakers, and the public to inform paid leave policy deliberations. Across the political spectrum, Mothers viewed the framework favorably and expressed broad support for establishing a national paid leave program.
February 29, 2024
View Report →
Rapid

Secure the Border Act (S.2824)

In January 2024, Count on Mothers surveyed 785 mothers across 47 states and a broad range of political ideologies to understand their views on the Secure the Border Act. Mothers shared perspectives based on their lived experiences and concerns related to family safety and well-being. Aggregated findings were shared with Congressional legislators to inform deliberations on the bill and its underlying policy issues. Overall, mothers expressed mixed views on the legislation, with majority support for several individual components and notable variation by political ideology.
January 31, 2024
View Report →
Rapid

GOSAFE Act (S.3369)

Count on Mothers research examined mothers’ views on the GOSAFE Act and its potential impact on children and families. Survey results show strong overall support for the bill, particularly among moderate and liberal mothers, alongside more mixed views among conservative mothers. Interviews highlight shared concern about gun violence affecting children and communities, with differences emerging around how best to address the problem.
December 31, 2023
View Report →
Rapid

Mothers’ Views on the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) and the Kids Off Social Media Act (KOSMA)

In June 2023, 318 Mothers from 44 states — representing a cross-section of political ideologies — completed an anonymous survey sharing their views on the components of the bill then introduced as the "Protecting Kids on Social Media Act," now called the "Kids Off Social Media Act" (KOSMA). From October through November 2023, 263 Mothers from 43 states completed a separate survey sharing their views on the Senate bill, the "Kids Online Safety Act" (KOSA). In November 2023, 7 Mothers from conservative, moderate, and liberal backgrounds participated in a one-hour web-based focus group to discuss their firsthand experiences related to children, families, and social media — including their perspectives on both KOSMA and KOSA.
December 15, 2023
View Report →
Interested in commissioning research or receiving a briefing?
Partner With Us