Is Donald Trump improving the US government?
Short answer: It depends what “improving” means to you. Here’s a concise, evidence‑based snapshot of how the federal government has changed since Donald Trump returned to office on January 20, 2025 (today is September 17, 2026).
Where supporters see “improvement”
Where critics see harm to government performance or norms
Bottom line
If you tell me which aspects of “improvement” you care about most (e.g., service efficiency, rule of law, budgets, climate, immigration, national security), I can go deeper on just those.[12]
Citations (12)
- Migrant encounters at US-Mexico border at lowest level in over 50 years | Pew Research Center
Backs: “Multiple datasets and reporting show encounters at the southwest border have fallen dramatically since early 2025, with several months under 10,000 encounters — lows not seen in decades. Interior removals have also increased.”
- President Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Is Now the Law – The White House
Backs: “Backers say it simplifies taxes for many workers and seniors.”
- FBI Releases Historic Early Look at Annual Crime Data — FBI
Backs: “The FBI’s preliminary 2025 data show the largest one‑year drop in violent crime since national estimates began (−9.3%), with murder down sharply; independent analysts report further declines in 2026.”
- https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/full_text/html/2025/01/28/2025-01905.html
Backs: “The administration reimposed a hiring freeze, shrank headcount, and moved to roll back or block numerous environmental and other rules, arguing this streamlines government and lowers costs.”
- Federal Register / Vol. 91, No. 25 / Friday, February 6, 2026 / Rules and Regulations 5611
Backs: “New hiring screens, efforts to reclassify career roles (e.g., “Schedule Policy/Career”), and pressure on federal statistical work have drawn lawsuits and warnings from good‑government groups and data experts.”
- Learning Resources, Inc. v. Trump | 607 U.S. ___ (2026) | Justia U.S. Supreme Court Center
Backs: “The Supreme Court blocked his emergency tariff plan (IEEPA) and limited his birthright‑citizenship order; lower courts have enjoined a federal mail‑ballot order ahead of midterms.”
- Confidence in U.S. Institutions Remains Near All-Time Low
Backs: “Polling in 2025–2026 shows trust in the federal government and institutions near historic lows, with many Americans saying Trump is making government work worse.”
- The Budget and Economic Outlook: 2025 to 2035 | Congressional Budget Office
Backs: “CBO projects large deficits in 2025–2026 (about $1.8–$1.9 trillion), and recent trade/tariff shifts add to longer‑term deficit projections.”
- Trump administration has cut or frozen $177 billion in grants across every state, analysis shows
Backs: “Analyses report substantial freezes or cuts to federal grants affecting health, nutrition, environment, and disaster relief; unions and watchdogs warn of operational strain from workforce reductions.”
- General Fact Sheet: Final Carbon Pollution Standards Repeal & Proposed Repeal of GHG Standards for Fossil-Fired EGUs
Backs: “EPA has repealed major power‑plant CO₂ rules and used the CRA to negate California vehicle‑emission waivers, moves supporters call cost‑saving and opponents call damaging to long‑term public health and climate goals.”
- Federal workforce shrank 10% in Trump’s first year back in office | Pew Research Center
Backs: “If it means strengthening nonpartisan capacity, rule‑of‑law guardrails, environmental stewardship, stable finances, and broad public trust, the record points the other way.”
- Presidents, vice presidents, and first ladies | USAGov
Backs: “If you tell me which aspects of “improvement” you care about most (e.g., service efficiency, rule of law, budgets, climate, immigration, national security), I can go deeper on just those.”