The Central Intelligence Agency remains one of the most powerful organizations in Washington, but a new survey suggests it is struggling to maintain the confidence of the public it serves.

According to a new Rasmussen Reports poll conducted May 31 through June 2, just 46% of likely U.S. voters hold a favorable view of the CIA. Forty-one percent view the agency unfavorably, while 12% remain undecided. The results represent a slight decline from 2023, when the agency’s favorability rating stood at 48%.

The findings come at a time when Americans appear increasingly divided over many of the nation’s most prominent institutions. While the CIA still enjoys a net-positive rating, its support now falls well short of the broad public trust once associated with America’s intelligence community. Only 11% of voters surveyed said they held a “very favorable” opinion of the agency, while 14% expressed a “very unfavorable” view.

The agency’s declining standing may reflect broader concerns about government credibility. Rasmussen found in 2023 that a majority of voters believed U.S. intelligence agencies pursue their own political agendas, and two-thirds suspected intelligence agencies influence media coverage of national events.

Recent years have seen intelligence agencies drawn into increasingly partisan debates. The FBI, Department of Justice, Department of Homeland Security, and other federal agencies have experienced significant swings in public approval depending on political affiliation and which party controls the White House. A 2025 Pew Research Center survey found that attitudes toward agencies such as the FBI and DOJ have become sharply polarized between Republicans and Democrats, reflecting a broader collapse in institutional consensus.

Unlike the FBI, however, the CIA generally operates outside the daily political spotlight. Under Director John Ratcliffe, the agency has maintained a relatively low public profile compared to domestic law enforcement agencies that have frequently dominated headlines.

Still, the new numbers suggest the CIA has not escaped the broader erosion of public trust affecting many federal institutions. The agency remains viewed favorably by more Americans than unfavorably, but it no longer commands the overwhelming confidence that intelligence agencies often enjoyed in the years following the September 11 attacks.

The Rasmussen survey questioned 1,079 likely voters nationwide and reported a margin of error of plus or minus three percentage points.

For the CIA, the message is mixed: Americans have not turned decisively against the agency, but fewer than half now view it positively, a sign that skepticism toward Washington’s institutions continues to deepen.