Is Donald Trump improving the US government?

Short answer: It depends what “improving” means to you (efficiency, competence, policy outcomes, rule‑of‑law, service quality, public trust). Here are the clearest, recent, evidence‑based changes and indicators, as of September 22, 2026:

•Civil service and management reforms: On January 20, 2025, President Trump reinstated and expanded the prior “Schedule F” concept (now “Schedule Policy/Career”) to make thousands of policy‑influencing jobs easier to reassign or remove; detailed guidance followed in 2025–2026. Supporters say this increases accountability; critics warn it politicizes expertise and degrades capacity. Multiple official documents confirm these changes.[1]

•“Department of Government Efficiency” (DOGE) initiative: Trump created a new E.O. framework that reorganized and directed the former U.S. Digital Service to lead cross‑agency cost‑cutting, hiring controls, and a deregulation drive. Subsequent orders set a hiring freeze and a 4‑to‑1 departures‑to‑new‑hire rule, and instructed agencies to prioritize repeal or non‑enforcement of rules viewed as legally dubious. These moves aim to streamline government; watchdogs and unions say they have also produced disruption and litigation.[2]

•Capacity and oversight effects: Independent reviews report large workforce shifts, increased use of administrative leave tied to reduction programs, and significant turnover among inspectors general—raising concerns about continuity and oversight independence even as the White House emphasizes efficiency.[3]

•Immigration enforcement outcomes: After day‑one policy changes (e.g., ending CBP One scheduling and categorical parole; expanded detention and removals), CBP reported sharp declines in southwest‑border encounters versus 2024 levels—an administration priority that some view as improved border control and others as creating humanitarian and legal risks.[4]

•Macroeconomic and fiscal backdrop (not the same as “government performance,” but relevant to many judgments): Inflation ran 3.4% year‑over‑year in August 2026; unemployment was 4.1% in August; real GDP grew at a 1.5% annual rate in Q2 2026; and the FY2025 deficit was about $1.8 trillion, with FY2026 projected near $1.9 trillion. These figures are mixed and leave long‑run fiscal pressures unresolved.[5]

•Rules, courts, and the “administrative state”: Supreme Court rulings in 2024—overturning Chevron deference (Loper Bright) and limiting in‑house agency adjudications for civil penalties (SEC v. Jarkesy)—shift power from agencies to the courts. Combined with the administration’s deregulatory directives, this curbs agency discretion—seen by some as restoring the rule of law and by others as hampering problem‑solving capacity.[6]

•Public confidence: Surveys in 2026 show trust in the federal government and major institutions remains near historic lows, suggesting that many Americans do not perceive broad “improvement” in how Washington serves them, regardless of policy wins the administration cites.[7]

Bottom line: If “improving” means reducing headcount, tightening political control over policy‑influencing roles, cutting or rolling back rules, and lowering reported border crossings, then yes—there’s clear movement in that direction. If it means strengthening nonpartisan expertise, oversight independence, stable service delivery, and broad public trust, the evidence so far is mixed to negative.

What aspect of “improvement” matters most to you—efficiency and control, policy results in specific areas (e.g., immigration, energy, economy), service quality (IRS, VA, passports), or institutional independence and trust? I can drill down with data on that dimension.

Citations (7)

1federalregister.govGovernment
https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/full_text/html/2025/01/31/2025-02095.html
Backs: “Supporters say this increases accountability; critics warn it politicizes expertise and degrades capacity. Multiple official documents confirm these changes.”
2whitehouse.govGovernment
Establishing And Implementing The President's "Department Of Government Efficiency" – The White House
Backs: “These moves aim to streamline government; watchdogs and unions say they have also produced disruption and litigation.”
3gao.govGovernment
GAO-26-108583, Federal Agency Workforce Changes: Update for July 2025 to January 2026
Backs: “Independent reviews report large workforce shifts, increased use of administrative leave tied to reduction programs, and significant turnover among inspectors general—raising concerns about continuity and oversight independence even as the White House emphasizes efficiency.”
4cbp.govGovernment
CBP Releases January 2025 Monthly Update | U.S. Customs and Border Protection
Backs: “After day‑one policy changes (e.g., ending CBP One scheduling and categorical parole; expanded detention and removals), CBP reported sharp declines in southwest‑border encounters versus 2024 levels—an administration priority that some view as improved border control and others as creating humanitarian and legal risks.”
5bls.govGovernment
Consumer Price Index News Release - 2026 M08 Results
Backs: “These figures are mixed and leave long‑run fiscal pressures unresolved.”
6everycrsreport.comEncyclopedias and referencequality 0.91
Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo and the Future of Agency Interpretations of Law - EveryCRSReport.com
Backs: “Combined with the administration’s deregulatory directives, this curbs agency discretion—seen by some as restoring the rule of law and by others as hampering problem‑solving capacity.”
7gallup.comCompanies
Confidence in U.S. Institutions Remains Near All-Time Low
Backs: “Surveys in 2026 show trust in the federal government and major institutions remains near historic lows, suggesting that many Americans do not perceive broad “improvement” in how Washington serves them, regardless of policy wins the administration cites.”