Short answer: It depends on what “improving” means to you. On some measures the administration reports gains; on others, performance and public sentiment have worsened. Here’s a concise, dated snapshot (United States, as of November 8, 2026):
•Civil service/management
•Trump reinstated and expanded a version of “Schedule F” (now “Schedule Policy/Career”) by Executive Order 14171 on January 20, 2025, and a follow‑on order implementing it on June 10, 2026; OPM finalized the rule in February 2026. Supporters say it increases accountability in policy‑influencing roles; critics warn it risks politicizing the career workforce.[1]
•Citizen satisfaction with federal services fell in 2026: ACSI’s government score dropped 2.6% to 68.6, and Forrester reported the first significant CX decline in its federal index.[2]
•Economy and budget
•Jobs: The U.S. added 165,000 jobs in October 2026; unemployment was 4.1% (BLS Employment Situation, released November 6, 2026). Real GDP grew at a 1.5% annual rate in Q2 2026 (BEA). Inflation data for October is due November 10; September CPI rose 0.6% m/m.[3]
•Fiscal: CBO estimates the FY2026 deficit at roughly $2.0 trillion, higher than FY2025.[4]
•Trade/tariffs
•The administration sharply expanded tariffs in 2025 using emergency and other authorities. Independent analyses estimate the average tariff rate rose to historically high levels (roughly 9–13% by early 2026), boosting customs‑duty receipts but modestly lowering projected GDP and raising prices in the near term.[5]
•Immigration/border
•CBP encounter data and independent reviews indicate migrant encounters fell sharply in FY2025 from FY2024 peaks, reaching far lower monthly levels through much of 2026. (Exact totals vary by source and time frame.)[6]
•Public confidence
•Public trust and job approval are low by historical standards in 2026: Pew reports Trump’s approval around 30% this fall; Gallup finds declining confidence in the federal government’s effectiveness.[7]
How this nets out:
•If you prioritize stricter border enforcement and greater management control over policy‑influencing civil‑service roles, you may view these as improvements.[8]
•If you value nonpartisan civil‑service protections, higher citizen satisfaction with services, stable prices, and rising trust, the evidence points the other way so far in 2026.[2]
If you tell me which outcomes matter most (e.g., customer service, deficits, inflation, border, ethics/trust), I can drill down with the most relevant data.
Backs: “Independent analyses estimate the average tariff rate rose to historically high levels (roughly 9–13% by early 2026), boosting customs‑duty receipts but modestly lowering projected GDP and raising prices in the near term.”
Backs: “CBP encounter data and independent reviews indicate migrant encounters fell sharply in FY2025 from FY2024 peaks, reaching far lower monthly levels through much of 2026. (Exact totals vary by source and time frame.)”
Backs: “If you prioritize stricter border enforcement and greater management control over policy‑influencing civil‑service roles, you may view these as improvements.”