Is Donald Trump improving the US government?

I'll look into recent assessments of how the Trump administration is affecting the federal government.

Whether Donald Trump is improving the U.S. government depends on the metric used. Assessments differ sharply between administration supporters and independent surveys of the public and federal workforce.

Claims of Improvement from the Administration and Supporters

The White House describes the second term as "the most consequential stretch of governing in modern American history" in under two years, citing:

•Border and immigration: ending "catch-and-release", negative net migration in 2025 for first time in at least half a century, and more than three million migrants leaving the country.

•Crime: murder rate fell to a historic low in 2025 — the lowest level in 125 years, with preliminary 2026 data showing violent crime down another 10% and murders down 23%.

•Deregulation and efficiency: a government-wide deregulatory mandate projected to save $1.5 trillion in FY2026 alone and efficiency reforms already saving an estimated $215 billion — about $1,335 per taxpayer, and shrinking the federal workforce to its lowest level since 1966.

Supportive analysis from the Heritage Foundation argues Trump reversed Biden-era trends:

•In January 2026, the private sector added 172,000 jobs while government jobs declined by 42,000.

•Trump reduced the federal bureaucracy by 323,000 in just one year — a reduction of more than a 10%.

•Inflation was 2.4% during his first year as measured by CPI, compared to erosion of purchasing power under Biden.

Other data points cited:

•Federal government employment has fallen by 328,000, or 10.9%, since he took office.

•DOGE reports $215 billion in savings, or roughly $1,335 per taxpayer as of Jan. 1, 2026.

Criticisms and Public Polling Data

Nonpartisan polling and oversight reports present a more negative public and workforce view:

Public perception of government management:

•Partnership for Public Service survey in October 2026: Fully 63% of Americans say management is heading in the "wrong direction".

•Only 20% of Americans say management is heading in the "right direction".

•Only 18% say the federal government is operating better compared with 62% who say it is operating worse.

•A separate Partnership survey: 52% oppose the administration's changes to the federal government compared with only 39% who support.

•About 51% say layoffs and funding reductions have made their life or community "worse" compared with only 28% who say better.

Republican support has also declined: 47% of Republicans now say management is heading in right direction, down from 69% in April 2025, and only 43% of Republicans now say government is operating better vs. 60% in April 2025.

Job approval:

•At year-end 2025, president's overall job approval averaged about 43%.

•AP-NORC poll showed only 33% approve of the way Trump is managing the government.

•Gallup Dec. 1-15 poll: 36% approve of Donald Trump's job performance, and 39% think he can manage government effectively.

•Pew survey Aug. 2025: 53% say Trump is making the federal government work worse, while only about 27% say he is making it better.

Federal workforce and DOGE effectiveness:

•Partnership's Public Service Viewpoint Survey of 11,083 federal workers assigned administration a score of 32 out of 100 for employee satisfaction and engagement, with 58% reporting engagement has gotten worse compared to 2024.

•The Partnership characterized first-year workforce reductions as having decreased the effectiveness of government services, not achieved stated efficiency goals.

•DOGE was established to dismantle bureaucracy and slash wasteful expenditures but ended July 4, 2026, and fell well short of Musk's initial promise of $2 trillion in savings. While DOGE claimed $215 billion saved, GAO analysis showed savings figures lose luster on closer inspection.

•Critics said DOGE's mass firings weakened essential services and was characterized as having failed to achieve stated goals and wreaked havoc across government.

Summary

Supporters point to reduced federal workforce size, claimed cost savings, deregulation, lower inflation compared to 2021-2024, and improvements in border security and crime statistics as evidence of improvement.

Opponents and recent national surveys indicate a majority of Americans perceive government management as worsening, with low approval of Trump's handling of the federal government, declining employee engagement, and questions about whether efficiency gains translated into sustained spending reductions.

Citations (3)

1whitehouse.govGovernment
President Trump Delivers Historic Results for the American People in Under Two Years
Backs: “Assessments differ sharply between administration supporters and independent surveys of the public and federal workforce. Claims of Improvement from the Administration and Supporters. The White House describes the second term as "the most consequential stretch of governing in modern American history" in under two…”
2heritage.orgNonprofits and think tanks
Trump Cleans Up Biden’s Mess
Backs: “Deregulation and efficiency: a government-wide deregulatory mandate projected to save $1.5 trillion in FY2026 alone and efficiency reforms already saving an estimated $215 billion — about $1,335 per taxpayer, and shrinking the federal workforce to its lowest level since 1966. Supportive analysis from the Heritage…”
3ourpublicservice.orgNonprofits and think tanks
Americans oppose how the federal government is being managed
Backs: “Nonpartisan polling and oversight reports present a more negative public and workforce view: Public perception of government management: Partnership for Public Service survey in October 2026: Fully 63% of Americans say management is heading in the "wrong direction".”