Is Donald Trump improving the US government?

Short answer: It depends on what you mean by “improving.”

Some changes under President Trump (in office since January 20, 2025) that supporters cite as improvements

•Aggressive deregulation: The administration imposed a 10-to-1 rule (repeal 10 rules or guidances for each new one). White House and OIRA materials say agencies achieved about a 129-to-1 ratio in FY2025 and are carrying that approach into FY2026.[1]

•Restructuring the civil service: The administration reinstated and then finalized a version of “Schedule F” (now called “Schedule Policy/Career”) to make thousands of policy‑influencing jobs easier to reassign or remove, arguing this would increase accountability and performance. A final rule was issued on February 6, 2026.[2]

Caveats and trade‑offs highlighted by nonpartisan analyses and workforce indicators

•Deregulatory tallies and “savings” are contested. GAO’s earlier review of first‑term deregulatory accounting found agencies could overstate progress because OIRA compared all deregulatory actions to only “significant” new regulations. That cautions against taking large headline ratios at face value.[3]

•Federal workforce effects are mixed. GAO has documented sizable staffing changes and loss of institutional knowledge at OPM and other agencies since late 2024; unions and some experts warn the new schedule could politicize career roles and affect recruiting/retention. CRS outlines the legal and policy questions Congress faces.[4]

•Measuring employee morale is harder right now. The government’s main engagement survey (FEVS) set a relatively strong benchmark in 2024, but OPM delayed or altered the 2025 survey cycle, so comparable government‑wide data for Trump’s second term are limited so far. The Partnership for Public Service cautioned that 2024 results don’t reflect post‑January 2025 changes.[5]

•Fiscal and macro impacts: CBO projects a $1.9 trillion federal deficit for FY2026 and estimates that recent trade policy changes (through July 31, 2026) will raise cumulative deficits over 2027–2036 and temporarily reduce GDP and investment relative to prior baselines—countervailing pressures on claims of “efficiency” or savings.[6]

Bottom line

•If “improving” means fewer federal rules, stronger White House control over policymaking roles, and faster removal of underperformers, you’ll likely see these as improvements.[1]

•If it means strengthening nonpartisan civil‑service norms, workforce stability and morale, and insulating long‑term program delivery from politics, you may view several moves as harmful or risky pending clearer performance data.[2]

If you can say which aspects of “improve” you care most about—efficiency, service quality, rule of law, fiscal outcomes, employee morale—I can zoom in with more specific metrics and examples.[7]

Citations (7)

1whitehouse.govGovernment
Directing the Repeal of Unlawful Regulations – The White House
Backs: “White House and OIRA materials say agencies achieved about a 129-to-1 ratio in FY2025 and are carrying that approach into FY2026.”
2everycrsreport.comEncyclopedias and referencequality 0.91
Schedule Policy/Career: 2026 Final Rule, Legal Challenges, and Issues for Lawmakers - EveryCRSReport.com
Backs: “The administration reinstated and then finalized a version of “Schedule F” (now called “Schedule Policy/Career”) to make thousands of policy‑influencing jobs easier to reassign or remove, arguing this would increase accountability and performance. A final rule was issued on February 6, 2026.”
3gao.govGovernment
Federal Rulemaking: Deregulatory Executive Orders Did Not Substantially Change Selected Agencies' Processes or Procedures | U.S. GAO
Backs: “That cautions against taking large headline ratios at face value.”
4gao.govGovernment
GAOverview: Recent Federal Workforce Changes at OPM | U.S. GAO
Backs: “GAO has documented sizable staffing changes and loss of institutional knowledge at OPM and other agencies since late 2024; unions and some experts warn the new schedule could politicize career roles and affect recruiting/retention. CRS outlines the legal and policy questions Congress faces.”
5opm.govGovernment
Governmentwide Management Report: Results from the 2024 Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey
Backs: “The Partnership for Public Service cautioned that 2024 results don’t reflect post‑January 2025 changes.”
6cbo.govGovernment
Outlook for the Budget and the Economy | Congressional Budget Office
Backs: “CBO projects a $1.9 trillion federal deficit for FY2026 and estimates that recent trade policy changes (through July 31, 2026) will raise cumulative deficits over 2027–2036 and temporarily reduce GDP and investment relative to prior baselines—countervailing pressures on claims of “efficiency” or savings.”
7usa.govGovernment
Presidents, vice presidents, and first ladies | USAGov
Backs: “If you can say which aspects of “improve” you care most about—efficiency, service quality, rule of law, fiscal outcomes, employee morale—I can zoom in with more specific metrics and examples.”