Is Donald Trump improving the US government?

Both sidesSays it is contestedSources conflict

The White House and SSA sources portray deregulation and service gains as improvements, while the IRS Taxpayer Advocate and the AP report on the FEMA ruling point to strain and unlawful workforce cuts.

Short answer: It depends what you mean by “improving.”

As of September 13, 2026, Donald J. Trump is the 47th U.S. president (sworn in January 20, 2025).[1]

What’s changed

•Shrinking and centralizing the executive branch: a government‑wide hiring freeze and workforce‑reduction drive cut federal headcount sharply in 2025; independent analyses put the decline around 10% year‑over‑year, with further reductions into 2026.[2]

•Civil service reclassification: OPM finalized a rule on Feb. 6, 2026 creating “Schedule Policy/Career” (a reworked Schedule F) to make policy‑influencing career staff easier to remove; implementation guidance followed. Supporters say it restores accountability; critics say it politicizes the merit system.[3]

•Return‑to‑office: agencies were ordered in January 2025 to end most telework and bring staff back in‑person full time.[4]

•Management and performance: the administration rolled out a new President’s Management Agenda and is implementing 2024’s Federal Agency Performance Act; GAO says key requirements aren’t yet fully met.[5]

•Deregulation push: the White House cites large regulatory “cost savings” and a deregulatory tilt in the 2026 Unified Agenda; outside trackers see heavy activity aimed at rolling back rules.[6]

What the early results look like

•Some service metrics improved: SSA cut average phone waits markedly in 2025; VA reports disability‑claim backlogs and processing times fell in 2026.[7]

•Others face strain: IRS had a strong 2025 filing season but the Taxpayer Advocate warns of growing difficulties in 2026 as staffing and backlogs shift.[8]

•Legal friction: courts and unions are actively challenging workforce policies (e.g., a judge ruled a DHS directive seeking 50% FEMA staffing cuts unlawful; multiple suits target Schedule Policy/Career and related rules).[9]

How to read this

•If you value a smaller, more centralized executive branch and less regulation, you may see these moves as “improvements” that increase accountability and speed.[6]

•If you prioritize nonpartisan civil‑service protections and agency capacity to deliver benefits and respond to crises, the downsizing and reclassification—and the mixed early service outcomes—may look risky or harmful.[3]

If you can say which aspect you care most about—customer service (SSA/VA/IRS), civil‑service protections, regulation, or budgets—I can dive into that slice with the latest data.

Citations (9)

1usa.govGovernment
Presidents, vice presidents, and first ladies | USAGov
Backs: “Trump is the 47th U.S. president (sworn in January 20, 2025).”
background, reference entry, neutral. Claim: Donald J. Trump is the 47th U.S. president, sworn in January 20, 2025.
2whitehouse.govGovernment
Extension of Hiring Freeze – The White House
Backs: “Shrinking and centralizing the executive branch: a government‑wide hiring freeze and workforce‑reduction drive cut federal headcount sharply in 2025; independent analyses put the decline around 10% year‑over‑year, with further reductions into 2026.”
evidence, official document, neutral. Claim: A government-wide hiring freeze and workforce reduction drive cut federal headcount sharply in 2025.
3govinfo.govGovernment
Federal Register / Vol. 91, No. 25 / Friday, February 6, 2026 / Rules and Regulations
Backs: “Supporters say it restores accountability; critics say it politicizes the merit system.”
evidence, official document, neutral. Claim: OPM finalized the Schedule Policy/Career rule on Feb. 6, 2026; supporters cite accountability, critics say it politicizes the merit system.
4govinfo.govGovernment
DCPD-202500143 - Memorandum on Return to In-Person Work - DCPD-202500143 | Content Details | GovInfo
Backs: “Return‑to‑office: agencies were ordered in January 2025 to end most telework and bring staff back in‑person full time.”
evidence, official document, neutral. Claim: Agencies were ordered in January 2025 to end most telework and return to in-person work full time.
5performance.govGovernment
President Trump's Management Agenda | Performance.gov
Backs: “Management and performance: the administration rolled out a new President’s Management Agenda and is implementing 2024’s Federal Agency Performance Act; GAO says key requirements aren’t yet fully met.”
evidence, official document, neutral. Claim: The administration rolled out a new President's Management Agenda; GAO says key performance requirements are not yet fully met.
6whitehouse.govGovernment
White House Office of Management and Budget’s Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs Releases End of Year Deregulatory Stats: Showing the Trump Administration Has Best Deregulation Year in History – The White House
Backs: “Deregulation push: the White House cites large regulatory “cost savings” and a deregulatory tilt in the 2026 Unified Agenda; outside trackers see heavy activity aimed at rolling back rules.”
evidence, official document, points to yes. Claim: The White House cites large regulatory cost savings and a deregulatory push as the best deregulation year in history.
7ssa.govGovernment
Inspector General Report Confirms Significant Customer Service Improvements at Social Security | News | SSA
Backs: “VA reports disability‑claim backlogs and processing times fell in 2026.”
evidence, article, points to yes. Claim: SSA cut average phone waits markedly in 2025, per an Inspector General report.
8irs.govGovernment
National Taxpayer Advocate delivers Annual Report to Congress; finds taxpayer service was strong in 2025 but foresees challenges for taxpayers who encounter problems in 2026 | Internal Revenue Service
Backs: “IRS had a strong 2025 filing season but the Taxpayer Advocate warns of growing difficulties in 2026 as staffing and backlogs shift.”
evidence, article, points to no. Claim: IRS had a strong 2025 filing season but the Taxpayer Advocate warns of growing difficulties in 2026.
9apnews.comNews and mediaquality 1.00
Federal judge rules Trump DHS plan for 50% FEMA staffing cuts was unlawful
Backs: “Legal friction: courts and unions are actively challenging workforce policies (e.g., a judge ruled a DHS directive seeking 50% FEMA staffing cuts unlawful; multiple suits target Schedule Policy/Career and related rules).”
evidence, article, points to no. Claim: A judge ruled a DHS directive seeking 50% FEMA staffing cuts unlawful.