Is Donald Trump improving the US government?

Short answer: it depends on what “improving” means to you. Here’s a concise, sourced snapshot of major changes and results since Donald Trump took office again on January 20, 2025 (he is the current, 47th president as of October 3, 2026).[1]

What’s changed institutionally

•Centralized control of rulemaking: Executive Order 14215 extended White House/OIRA review to “independent” regulators (e.g., FTC, FCC). Backers call it accountability and coherence; critics say it politicizes independent agencies.[2]

•“Department of Government Efficiency” (DOGE): Created by EO 14158, led by Elon Musk, to cut waste and modernize tech. The administration touts streamlining (e.g., a new America.gov services portal), but outside reviews say headline “savings” claims are unverified or overstated.[3]

•Civil service changes (Schedule Policy/Career, a revival/revision of “Schedule F”): Makes certain policy‑influencing career roles easier to remove for performance. Supporters argue it boosts accountability; unions, good‑government groups, and some analysts warn of politicization of the merit system.[4]

•Education reorganization: An executive order to “return education to the states,” paired with moving some functions across agencies; closing the department outright still requires Congress.[5]

What outcomes look like so far

•Service delivery (selected): VA reports faster processing and a reduced disability‑claims backlog; official dashboards show elevated throughput with a fluctuating backlog as new claims surge.[6]

•Regulation: The White House set aggressive deregulatory targets (e.g., a “10‑for‑1” replacement rule) and broadened centralized review; whether this improves outcomes vs. reduces protections depends on your policy view and the specific rule.[7]

•Economy/fiscal picture: GDP growth is modest (Q2 2026 upgrade to about 2.2%), unemployment recently ticked up; federal deficits remain very large (~$1.9–$2.1T projected for FY2026). These reflect many forces beyond any single administration, but they don’t show clear, near‑term fiscal “improvement.”[8]

•Public trust in government and institutions: Still near historic lows in 2025–2026 polling. That makes claims of “improved government” a hard sell to many Americans, regardless of policy changes.[9]

Bottom line

•If “improving” means tighter presidential control over the bureaucracy and faster personnel/accountability levers, the answer is “yes, to a meaningful degree.” If it means nonpartisan capacity, independent‑agency insulation, higher public trust, or smaller deficits, the picture is mixed to negative so far.

If you tell me which dimensions you care about most (e.g., service delivery, fiscal health, civil service independence, regulation, education, immigration), I can dive deeper into just those.

Citations (9)

1usa.govGovernment
Presidents, vice presidents, and first ladies | USAGov
Backs: “Here’s a concise, sourced snapshot of major changes and results since Donald Trump took office again on January 20, 2025 (he is the current, 47th president as of October 3, 2026).”
2whitehouse.govGovernment
Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Reins in Independent Agencies to Restore a Government that Answers to the American People – The White House
Backs: “Backers call it accountability and coherence; critics say it politicizes independent agencies.”
3govinfo.govGovernment
DCPD-202500125 - Executive Order 14158—Establishing and Implementing the President's "Department of Government Efficiency" - DCPD-202500125 | Content Details | GovInfo
Backs: “The administration touts streamlining (e.g., a new America.gov services portal), but outside reviews say headline “savings” claims are unverified or overstated.”
4opm.govGovernment
OPM Finalizes Schedule Policy/Career Rule to Strengthen Accountability
Backs: “Supporters argue it boosts accountability; unions, good‑government groups, and some analysts warn of politicization of the merit system.”
5ed.govGovernment
Statement on President Trump’s Executive Order to Return Power Over Education to States and Local Communities | U.S. Department of Education
Backs: “An executive order to “return education to the states,” paired with moving some functions across agencies; closing the department outright still requires Congress.”
6va.govGovernment
Detailed Claims Data - Veterans Benefits Administration Reports
Backs: “VA reports faster processing and a reduced disability‑claims backlog; official dashboards show elevated throughput with a fluctuating backlog as new claims surge.”
7gwu.eduAcademic
2025 Regulatory Year in Review | Regulatory Studies Center | Trachtenberg School of Public Policy & Public Administration | Columbian College of Arts & Sciences | The George Washington University
Backs: “The White House set aggressive deregulatory targets (e.g., a “10‑for‑1” replacement rule) and broadened centralized review; whether this improves outcomes vs. reduces protections depends on your policy view and the specific rule.”
8apnews.comNews and mediaquality 1.00
US economy grew a solid 2.2% in the second quarter, government says, upgrading previous estimate
Backs: “These reflect many forces beyond any single administration, but they don’t show clear, near‑term fiscal “improvement.””
9gallup.comCompanies
Confidence in U.S. Institutions Remains Near All-Time Low
Backs: “That makes claims of “improved government” a hard sell to many Americans, regardless of policy changes.”