Is Donald Trump improving the US government?

I'll examine current metrics on government performance to evaluate recent changes.

Whether Donald Trump is improving the U.S. government is disputed and depends on which metrics are used to define "improving." Polling, economic data, and administration claims point in different directions:

Public Opinion

National polling shows more Americans currently hold a negative view than positive view of Trump's impact on government:

•In an August 2025 Pew Research Center survey of 3,554 adults, 53% said Trump is making the federal government work worse, while 27% said he is making the government work better. Two-in-ten said he is making things about equally better and worse.

•Earlier, less than a month into his second term, the public was evenly divided: 41% said Trump’s administration will improve the way the federal government works, and 42% said it will make things worse.

•By January 2026, Pew found Trump’s approval rating stands at 37%, down from 40% in the fall, and by more than two-to-one, Americans say the administration’s actions have been worse than they expected (50%) rather than better (21%).

•On specific handling of government functions, an AP-NORC poll found about 4 in 10 Americans approve of Trump’s handling of government spending, down from 46% in March.

Arguments Made That Government Has Improved

Supporters and the administration point to several areas:

•Government Efficiency / DOGE: The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) was created to improve efficiency by downsizing the government, cutting the federal workforce, and eliminating entire programs. The White House states government efficiency efforts have saved an estimated $215 billion, equivalent to $1,335 per U.S. taxpayer and that federal employment is now at its lowest level in over a decade.

•Economy: The White House cited stronger real GDP growth of 3.8 percent in Q2 2025 as evidence of economic resurgence tied to tax cuts, deregulation, tariffs and energy policy.

•Border Security: The administration states illegal border crossings have plummeted to the lowest level since 1970 — with the U.S. on track to see net negative migration. Supporters cite this as restoring order at the border.

Arguments Made That Government Has Gotten Worse

Critics and some analyses point to opposite effects:

•View that government works worse: As noted above, a majority in Pew's August 2025 survey said Trump is making government work worse rather than better, including 87% of Democrats and 16% of Republicans.

•Legal and operational challenges to cuts: A Brookings Institution analysis found early DOGE efforts were enacted on dubious legal grounds, which poses a threat to their permanence and were undertaken without attention to and understanding of the government’s mission. The analysis notes hundreds of lawsuits, court reversals, and subsequent rehiring efforts after layoffs.

•Approval on economy and other issues: Despite GDP growth claims, polling shows low approval on handling of the economy and other issues, with 60% disapproving overall in mid-2025.

There is no single objective measure of "improving" government. Supporters tend to emphasize reduced spending, fewer federal employees, deregulation, and border enforcement as improvements in efficiency and control. Opponents tend to emphasize polling majorities who see worsened function, court challenges to cuts, and concerns about service delivery and institutional norms.

Citations (3)

1pewresearch.orgNonprofits and think tanks
Trump's Tariffs, 'Big Beautiful Bill' Viewed Negatively as His Approval Slips | Pew Research Center
Backs: “National polling shows more Americans currently hold a negative view than positive view of Trump's impact on government: In an August 2025 Pew Research Center survey of 3,554 adults, 53% said Trump is making the federal government work worse, while 27% said he is making the government work better.”
2pewresearch.orgNonprofits and think tanks
Confidence in Trump Dips in 2026, and Fewer Now Say They Support His Policies and Plans | Pew Research Center
Backs: “Earlier, less than a month into his second term, the public was evenly divided: 41% said Trump’s administration will improve the way the federal government works, and 42% said it will make things worse. By January 2026, Pew found Trump’s approval rating stands at 37%, down from 40% in the fall, and by more than…”
3brookings.eduNonprofits and think tanks
How will we know if DOGE is succeeding? | Brookings
Backs: “Arguments Made That Government Has Improved. Supporters and the administration point to several areas: Government Efficiency / DOGE: The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) was created to improve efficiency by downsizing the government, cutting the federal workforce, and eliminating entire programs.”