Is Donald Trump improving the US government?

Short answer: it depends what you mean by “improve.” If you judge by management changes and central control of agencies, supporters would say yes; if you judge by institutional independence, fiscal stewardship, or broad public confidence, the picture is mixed to negative. Here’s a quick, evidence-based snapshot as of September 26, 2026:

What his administration has changed inside government

•Civil service and agency control: On January 20, 2025, Trump signed an order reviving a “Schedule F–style” classification that makes it easier to remove career employees in policy‑influencing roles, and he ordered most federal workers back to offices and imposed hiring/regulatory freezes. Backers say this boosts accountability and execution; critics say it politicizes the nonpartisan civil service and weakens capacity. These moves are documented in contemporaneous reporting and official records.[1]

•Government performance risks: GAO’s 2025 High‑Risk List still flags dozens of long‑standing management problems across agencies, indicating limited system‑wide improvement so far.[2]

Outcomes that reflect on governance

•Fiscal picture: Through August (11 months of FY2026), the deficit was about $2.0 trillion; CBO’s 2026–2036 outlook projects persistent large deficits, noting that the 2025 reconciliation law and policy changes (including higher tariffs and lower immigration) increased projected shortfalls. That is not an improvement in fiscal sustainability.[3]

•Economy: Real GDP grew at a 1.5% annualized rate in 2026 Q2 (moderate growth). Unemployment was 4.1% in August 2026 (historically low by long‑run standards, but above 2023–24 lows). Headline inflation ran 3.4% year‑over‑year in August 2026 (down from 2022 peaks but above the Fed’s 2% goal). These are mixed signals rather than a clear “improvement across the board.”[4]

•Border and immigration operations: The administration moved to reinstate a version of “Remain in Mexico” and tighten asylum; litigation over those actions has been ongoing. Early agency statements in 2025 touted sharp declines in southwest‑border crossings, but courts and data series remain contested.[5]

•Public confidence: Trust in the federal government remains near historic lows in 2025–2026 polling, suggesting no broad improvement in perceived governmental legitimacy or performance.[6]

Bottom line

•If your priority is a more top‑down, president‑driven executive branch that can more quickly replace policy staff and steer agencies, you may view Trump’s changes as “improving” government.

•If your priority is nonpartisan institutional capacity, longer‑term fiscal sustainability, and higher public trust, available indicators so far don’t show clear improvement—and in some areas point the other way.[3]

If you tell me which aspects of “improvement” you care about—efficiency, services, spending, rule of law/independence, border operations, etc.—I can dig in on those specifically.

Citations (6)

1washingtonpost.comNews and mediaquality 0.82
Trump reinstates plan to strip protections from federal workers - The Washington Post
Backs: “These moves are documented in contemporaneous reporting and official records.”
2gao.govGovernment
High Risk List | U.S. GAO
Backs: “GAO’s 2025 High‑Risk List still flags dozens of long‑standing management problems across agencies, indicating limited system‑wide improvement so far.”
3cbo.govGovernment
Monthly Budget Review: August 2026 | Congressional Budget Office
Backs: “CBO’s 2026–2036 outlook projects persistent large deficits, noting that the 2025 reconciliation law and policy changes (including higher tariffs and lower immigration) increased projected shortfalls. That is not an improvement in fiscal sustainability.”
4bea.govGovernment
Gross Domestic Product | U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA)
Backs: “These are mixed signals rather than a clear “improvement across the board.””
5justiceactioncenter.orgNot yet classified
Immigrant Defenders Law Center v. Noem (Remain in Mexico/MPP) - Court of Appeals | Litigation Tracker
Backs: “Early agency statements in 2025 touted sharp declines in southwest‑border crossings, but courts and data series remain contested.”
6pewresearch.orgNonprofits and think tanks
Public Trust in Government: 1958-2025 | Pew Research Center
Backs: “Trust in the federal government remains near historic lows in 2025–2026 polling, suggesting no broad improvement in perceived governmental legitimacy or performance.”