Peace Through Strength
2025 Reagan National Defense Survey
Overview
The Reagan National Defense Survey is a national public opinion poll that measures how the American people understand key defense and national security issues. Since 2018, this survey has offered policy makers and opinion leaders insight into the views of the American people.
Introduction to 2025 Survey Report
As President Reagan’s legacy of peace through strength endures, Americans continue to support active U.S. leadership. A solid majority wants the United States to be more engaged and take the lead in international affairs (64%). A supermajority believes American military superiority matters: 87% say it is important that the United States have the most powerful military in the world, and 71% agree the world is more likely to achieve peace when the United States is the strongest power.
Support is also rising for concrete measures that deter aggression and equip allies and partners. Almost seven in ten (68%) back spending to develop a “Golden Dome” homeland missile defense system. Support for sending U.S. weapons to Ukraine has climbed to 64%—up nine points since last year. If China invaded Taiwan, 60% would support committing U.S. forces to Taiwan’s defense—up from 48% last year.
Our findings show that Americans want the United States to lead globally, maintain a military strong enough to deter authoritarian adversaries, and stand by allies who are on the front lines of defending freedom.
2025 Reagan National Defense Survey Video
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From the Pollsters
Survey Advisory Board
Mr. Bradley Bowman
Senior Director of the Center on Military and Political Power, Foundation for Defense of Democracies
Ms. Mackenzie Eaglen
Resident Fellow, American Enterprise Institute
Ambassador Eric Edelman
Counselor, Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments | Former Undersecretary of Defense for Policy
The Honorable Eric Fanning
President and CEO, Aerospace Industries Association | Former U.S. Secretary of the Army
Mr. Richard Fontaine
Chief Executive Officer, Center for a New American Security
Mr. Steven Grundman
Founder and Principal, Grundman Advisory | Senior Fellow, Atlantic Council
Mr. Greg Little
Senior Counselor, Palantir Technologies
Mr. Henry Olsen
Senior Fellow, Ethics and Public Policy Center
Admiral Gary Roughead, USN (Ret.)
Robert and Marion Oster Distinguished Military Fellow, Hoover Institution | Former Chief of Naval Operations
Mr. Karl Rove
Former Deputy Chief of Staff and Senior Advisor to President George W. Bush
Dr. Nadia Schadlow
Senior Fellow, Hudson Institute | Former Deputy National Security Advisor for Strategy
Dr. Ray Takeyh
Hasib J. Sabbagh Senior Fellow for Middle East Studies, Council on Foreign Relations
The Honorable Mac Thornberry
Former Chair of the House Armed Services Committee and U.S. Representative, TX-13
Dr. Kenneth Weinstein
Japan Chair and Former President & Chief Executive Officer, Hudson Institute
More Surveys
2024 Reagan National Defense Survey
We released the seventh annual Reagan National Defense Survey, showing Americans believe the United States must lead on the world stage, backed by a strong U.S. military.
2023 Reagan National Defense Survey
This year's survey reveals concerns that congressional budget cuts will lead to reduced military capabilities and support for increasing military spending on cutting-edge technologies like artificial intelligence.
2022 Reagan National Defense Survey
In the face of geopolitical events that shook the foundations of global peace and security in 2022, Americans see U.S. leadership as the key to restoring the peace.
2021 Reagan National Defense Survey
Despite uncertainty among the American people about whether or how the United States should lead in the world, there is a significant bipartisan consensus that China is the greatest threat we face.
2020 Reagan National Defense Survey
The latest Reagan National Defense Survey reflects a downturn in overall attitudes across nearly every category of question. One of the more alarming downward trends is declining trust and confidence in the military.
2019 Reagan National Defense Survey
Americans remain steadfast in their support for a strong military that both keeps the peace and advances the values of freedom and democracy abroad. Americans are not isolationists. They want America to be more engaged in the world, not less.
2018 Reagan National Defense Survey
Americans remain steadfast in their support for a strong military that both keeps the peace and advances the values of freedom and democracy abroad. Americans are not isolationists.
