National Write Your Congressman Survey: Trust in Congress Reaches Highest Level Since 2018, Small Business Owners Push for Action on Key Issues
DALLAS – April 29, 2025—National Write Your Congressman (NWYC), an organization that gives small businesses a voice in government, released its Q1 2025 Index, which captures the sentiment of small business owners toward Congress, the U.S. economy, and the new administration’s first 100 days. The Index revealed a significant increase in business owners’ trust, satisfaction, and hope in Congress—the highest reported levels since 2018.
While there is a renewed sense of trust and hope in Congress, small business owners are closely monitoring the administration's policies and their potential impacts on the economy.
“In the first 100 days of the new administration, our members have continued to elevate the issues that matter most to their business success,” said Randy Ford, President and COO of National Write Your Congressman. “Many are optimistic about this administration’s policies but are also concerned about how inflation and tariffs will affect their business. We encourage small business owners to remain engaged and persistent in advocating for their priorities in Washington.”
One of the most notable changes in the administration’s first 100 days has been the implementation of new tariffs on foreign goods. Thirty-six percent of small business owners believe these tariffs will benefit their businesses, while 19 percent feel they will be detrimental. Another 19 percent anticipate no impact, and 26 percent remain uncertain about the effects.?
Business owners overwhelmingly support the new Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), with 89 percent stating the department is helping reduce waste across the federal government. High taxes, excessive regulations, government bureaucracy, and complex tax filing requirements were identified as major contributors to inefficiency.
Business owners identified tax reform, healthcare costs and access to affordable coverage, regulatory relief to reduce compliance burdens, and immigration reform as the top issues they hope Congress will prioritize in the second quarter. These priorities reflect a shift from the pre-election concerns voiced in October 2024, when business owners ranked immigration, inflation, the U.S. economy, taxes, and the national debt as the most pressing topics for the incoming administration.
“In the past year, prices have continued to rise with inflation, and with these new tariffs, it is going to become extremely difficult in everything people do,” said Mark Gaiser, Owner/Manager, Gaiser Comfort Solutions in Tipton, Indiana.
When asked to assess the state of the economy under the current administration, 55 percent of business owners described the U.S. economy as “good,” while 29 percent called it “fair,” and nine percent rated it as “excellent.”
Methodology
NWYC collected data from an online survey from April 2 to April 22, 2025. A total of 790 business leaders from 48 of the 50 U.S. states participated. Fifty-six percent of business owners surveyed employ one to nine employees, and 40 percent employ 10 to 99 employees.
Since 1958, National Write Your Congressman (NWYC) has empowered small businesses by providing nonpartisan information, research, and tools to connect with their representatives in Washington. As the nation's largest, privately held, nonpartisan membership organization made up of small businesses, NWYC's team of experts provides unbiased, nonpartisan information and research on top issues and pending legislation relevant to small business owners today. NWYC presents both sides of the issue so that members can form an educated opinion and let their elected officials know their opinion.
