Is Donald Trump improving the US government?

This is a subjective and highly debated political question that doesn't have a single objective answer—people's views depend heavily on their values, priorities, and which policies they weigh most heavily. Let me search for current, balanced information to give you a fuller picture.This is a subjective question that people answer very differently depending on their political values and priorities. I can't give you a personal verdict, but here's what the evidence shows from multiple angles:

Public Opinion

By most measures, Trump's approval has been declining and is now quite low. As of mid-to-late September 2026, polling aggregators show approval around 38.0% and disapproval around 59.6%, a net of about -21.6 points. Some individual polls show even lower numbers—one September 2026 poll found 33% approve and 63% disapprove, the worst reading since May 2025. Nate Silver's tracker notes Trump has hit an all-time approval low, with net approval sitting at -22.4, which is notably worse than his first term at the same point and worse than Biden's numbers at a comparable stage.

Even within his own party there are signs of erosion: a Reuters/Ipsos poll from September 20, 2026 found approval at 32%, with Republican approval falling from 82% to 73%.

What Supporters Point To

The administration and allies highlight several claimed wins: a Gaza peace deal abroad and passage of his 'Big Beautiful Bill,' an overhaul of the federal government with Elon Musk's help, ending DEI programs, and launching massive immigration enforcement. Treasury Secretary Bessent credited the administration with trade deals, tax changes, and deregulation. On energy, the administration prioritized expanded oil and gas leasing, approval of advanced nuclear projects, and rolling back environmental programs it describes as restoring energy independence.

What Critics Point To

Critics focus heavily on the federal workforce and institutional norms. The nonpartisan Partnership for Public Service reported that in 2025 the administration purged more than 300,000 employees, began politicizing the nonpartisan civil service, unilaterally dismantled agencies created by Congress, halted programs, and pursued retribution against opponents, warning this would likely mean continued erosion of norms, rules, and law critical for accountable government.

Economically, even a friendly outlet acknowledged Trump promised to end inflation, but has not, and a polling-analysis site pointed to the Federal Reserve holding rates while tariff inflation builds, with Q1 GDP at +2.0% but PCE inflation hitting 4.5%—a stagflation pattern last seen in the 1970s as a driver of falling approval.

On foreign policy, one analysis noted that despite promises to end major wars, 2024 saw more state-based armed conflicts than any point in the past seven decades, and 2025 concluded with peace deals still out of reach in Ukraine and Sudan, and Gaza's ceasefire plan effectively stalled.

Bottom Line

Independent fact-checking summaries describe the record as "a mix of aggressive executive action, deregulatory and immigration-focused measures, and claims of economic gains," while noting much of the success narrative comes from administration-aligned sources versus more critical independent reporting on contested legal and international actions.

Whether these changes constitute "improving" the government fundamentally depends on your priorities—smaller government and deregulation vs. institutional stability and civil service protections; aggressive immigration enforcement vs. due process concerns; deal-making abroad vs. measurable peace outcomes. I'd encourage you to weigh the specific policy areas that matter most to you rather than looking for a single up-or-down verdict.