Is Donald Trump improving the US government?

Is the Trump administration improving the government? I'll gather recent data and perspectives to give you a balanced answer.

Whether the Trump Administration is improving the U.S. government is disputed, with different groups citing different metrics.

Polling on Government Performance

Six months into his second term, public evaluations of President Donald Trump's job performance had grown more negative, with job approval at 38% (60% disapprove).

On the specific question of whether he is making government work better or worse:

•A 53% majority say Trump is making the federal government work worse, while only about half as many (27%) say he is making the government work better.

•Views have become more negative than expectations at the start of the term. Among Republicans and Republican-leaning independents, 55% now say Trump is improving the way the federal government works, while 16% say he's making things worse, down from 76% of Republicans who expected he would make government work better in the weeks after he took office.

•Among Democrats and Democratic leaners, 87% say Trump is worsening the way government functions, up from 78% at the beginning of his term.

Other polls in late 2025-2026 show his overall approval around 40-41% with majority disapproval on the economy and government spending handling.

What Supporters Point To as Improvements

The administration and supporters argue it has improved government effectiveness in several areas:

•Border security: The White House states that more than 2.5 million illegal aliens have been removed, that for seven straight months zero illegal aliens have been released into the country's interior, and that illegal border crossings have plummeted to the lowest level since 1970.

•Workforce reduction and efficiency: On January 20, 2025, President Donald Trump issued an executive order establishing the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), reorganizing the U.S. Digital Service as the U.S. DOGE Service. The stated goal was to modernize federal technology and enhance efficiency and productivity.

•Deregulation and other policy changes: The administration cites reversals of prior policies, resumption of border wall construction, ending catch-and-release, and dismantling programs like the CBP One app as restoring order.

As of July 2025, the federal workforce had lost more than 271,000 employees including both voluntary and involuntary departures, which supporters characterize as reducing bloat and long-term costs.

What Critics Point To as Worsening Performance

Critics and oversight reports argue the reform efforts have added costs and reduced effectiveness:

•The Trump administration spent an estimated $9.5 billion on paid administrative leave for federal workers in the past year, according to a Government Accountability Office report.

•Agencies’ use of paid administrative leave increased by 435% from 2023 to 2025, with a significant portion — about $6.7 billion — attributed to a DOGE-era “deferred resignation program” which allowed nearly 140,000 federal employees to opt for early resignation while still receiving pay through September 2025.

•The GAO noted that the Office of Personnel Management does not have precise data on the actual costs of paid administrative leave used for workforce reduction efforts, as these are reported together with other types of leave.

•Critics also point to polls showing 61% disapprove of Trump's tariff policies while 38% approve, and 46% disapprove of the tax and spending law known as the "One Big Beautiful Bill" while 32% approve.

•Pew also found that 59% say the administration has been "too careless" in making cuts to federal departments and agencies.

Summary

Whether the government is "improving" depends on which measures and values are prioritized:

•If the metric is border enforcement, workforce size reduction, and deregulation, supporters say the government is improved.

•If the metric is overall public perception of government functionality, cost-effectiveness of the reduction programs, and handling of the economy, polling shows a majority currently say the government is working worse.

Citations (3)

1pewresearch.orgNonprofits and think tanks
Trump's Tariffs, 'Big Beautiful Bill' Viewed Negatively as His Approval Slips | Pew Research Center
Backs: “Whether the Trump Administration is improving the U.S. government is disputed, with different groups citing different metrics. Polling on Government Performance. Six months into his second term, public evaluations of President Donald Trump's job performance had grown more negative, with job approval at 38% (60%…”
2whitehouse.govGovernment
Trump’s Historic Border Victory: From Open Borders to Total Control
Backs: “What Supporters Point To as Improvements. The administration and supporters argue it has improved government effectiveness in several areas:”
3vibetrader.comNot yet classified
Trump Administration Spent $9.5 Billion on Paid Leave Amid Mass Federal Workforce Cuts, GAO Reports
Backs: “Deregulation and other policy changes: The administration cites reversals of prior policies, resumption of border wall construction, ending catch-and-release, and dismantling programs like the CBP One app as restoring order. As of July 2025, the federal workforce had lost more than 271,000 employees including both…”