Bipartisan Supermajorities Support Government Action to Bring Down the Cost of Americans’ Debts
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Groundwork Collaborative and Protect Borrowers published a new poll conducted by Data for Progress exposing the ways Americans depend on debt and credit to stay afloat. Today’s poll also finds that Americans—across party lines and by a more than 4-to-1 margin—support government action on a range of populist economic policies to bring down the cost of families’ mounting debts.
“Today’s poll reveals a troubling rise in families relying on buy now, pay later loans just to stay afloat, trapping hardworking Americans in a cycle of debt that some fear will take years to climb out of. As Americans plead for their government to help with soaring costs, President Trump is not just ignoring their struggles, he’s actively making them worse with reckless policies that drive up prices on essentials like food and energy,” said Lindsay Owens, Executive Director of Groundwork Collaborative.
According to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, Americans owe more debt than at any point in history—more than $18.5 trillion in total. Today’s poll shows that Americans now shoulder a wide range of debts, including more than half (55%) who currently carry credit card debt, 1-in-4 (24%) who owe a debt to a utility company, and 1-in-6 (16%) who went into debt to cover their rent. Nearly a quarter of voters (24%) say that they would need a windfall—an inheritance, government assistance, or a winning lottery ticket—to ever get out of debt.
In this Groundwork-Protect Borrowers survey of 1,202 likely voters, nearly 1-in-3 (29%) report taking out a so-called Buy Now, Pay Later loan (BNPL) in the past year to pay for a range of basic needs and monthly expenses. Alarmingly, this poll shows for the first time that Americans are using these risky new forms of credit to pay other bills and keep up with other debts–among BNPL users, 1-in-4 (24%) report borrowing to cover rent, 1-in-3 (36%) report borrowing to cover a payment on another debt, and 1-in-3 (36%) report borrowing to cover the cost of medical or dental care.
A BIPARTISAN SUPERMAJORITY OF AMERICANS SUPPORT GOVERNMENT ACTION TO BRING DOWN THE COST OF DEBT
Today’s poll also tested four different public policies that could help working families make ends meet by lowering the cost of household debts: capping credit card interest rates, prosecuting predatory lenders and loan companies, banning junk fees, and directly providing debt relief.
Each of these proposals won broad, bipartisan support that spans gender, race, age, and education.
“Today’s poll exposes a startling new reality in Donald Trump’s economy: as prices climb and money gets tight, Americans are going into debt to buy groceries, make rent, get healthcare, and even make payments on other debt,” said Mike Pierce, executive director of Protect Borrowers. “Driving families into debt is a policy choice—voters across party lines are demanding lawmakers act now to deliver debt relief and help working families make ends meet.”
Read the poll: https://www.filesforprogress.org/datasets/2025/8/dfp_debt_experience_tabs.pdf
About Protect Borrowers
Protect Borrowers (formerly Student Borrower Protection Center) is a nonprofit organization led by a team of experts, lawyers, and advocates fighting to build an economy where debt doesn’t limit opportunity. We investigate financial abuses, take predatory companies to court, and push for policies to protect working people from debt traps. We aim to deliver immediate relief to families while building power, driving systemic change, and fighting for racial and economic justice.
Learn more at protectborrowers.org or follow Protect Borrowers on Twitter at @borrowerjustice.
About Groundwork Collaborative
Learn more at groundworkcollaborative.org or follow on Twitter at @groundwork.
About Data for Progress
Data for Progress is a progressive think tank and polling firm which arms movements with data-driven tools to fight for a more equitable future. DFP provides polling, data-based messaging, and policy generation for the progressive movement, and advises campaigns and candidates with the tools they need to win. DFP polling is regularly cited by The New York Times, The Washington Post, MSNBC, CBS News, and hundreds of other trusted news organizations.
Learn more at dataforprogress.org or follow DFP on Twitter at @dataprogress.