Is Donald Trump improving the US government?

Is Trump improving the government? I'll gather recent data on his reforms and performance metrics to give you a balanced answer.

Whether Donald Trump is improving the US government depends on how improvement is measured, and evaluations differ sharply:

What the Administration and Supporters Claim

The White House describes the period since January 2025 as "the most consequential stretch of governing in modern American history", citing:

•Government efficiency and deregulation: The administration says its government efficiency reforms have saved an estimated $215 billion — about $1,335 per taxpayer — and shrunk the federal workforce to its lowest level since 1966. A similar figure is reported by the Department of Government Efficiency as of Jan. 1, 2026.

•The White House also says its government-wide deregulatory mandate is projected to save the U.S. economy $1.5 trillion in FY2026 alone, including revocation of the Obama-era Endangerment Finding described as the single-largest deregulatory action in American history.

•Services: The administration points to reduced wait times and backlog reductions for veterans, including that as of July 2026 the backlog of veterans waiting for VA benefits dropped below 70,000 for the first time since 2020.

•Other claimed results include securing the border, reduced violent crime, lower prescription drug prices, energy production records, and reforms like America.gov to streamline access to government services.

The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), established by executive order on January 20, 2025 to modernize federal technology and cut waste, was presented as the central vehicle for these savings through asset sales, contract cancellations, and workforce reductions.

What Critics and Watchdog Groups Claim

Critics argue the changes have reduced government capacity and not delivered efficiency gains:

•A report by the nonpartisan Partnership for Public Service on the first anniversary of Trump's second inauguration concluded that workforce reductions have "decreased the effectiveness of government services, not achieved stated efficiency goals and were conducted with minimal transparency".

•That report said workforce cuts at agencies like the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, Federal Emergency Management Agency and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have made the U.S. less prepared for crises, and that reorganizations at the Social Security Administration have strained customer service and reductions at the National Weather Service have hurt its ability to maintain 24/7 forecasting operations.

•It also noted that government spending increased between fiscal 2024 and 2025, despite the cost-cutting rationale.

•A Government Accountability Office estimate cited in 2025 found the administration spent $9.5 billion on paid administrative leave for federal workers as part of its plan to shrink the government, which critics described as a costly way to weaken capacity.

•Concerns have also been raised about plans to convert tens of thousands of career civil servants to at-will employment and increase political influence over the civil service.

Public Opinion Polling

Public assessments are divided and have trended lower in 2026:

•A Financial Times report citing a Focaldata poll in October 2026 reported Trump's approval at 34%.

•A Reuters/Ipsos poll reported in October 2026 put approval at a record-low 32%.

•Other tracking averages around the same period showed net approval at minus-21 percent.

In summary, supporters point to measurable reductions in workforce size, claimed cost savings, deregulation, and service improvements as evidence of a more efficient government, while critics point to watchdog findings of reduced service effectiveness, increased spending and administrative costs, and risks to agency capacity.

Citations (2)

1whitehouse.govGovernment
President Trump Delivers Historic Results for the American People in Under Two Years
Backs: “Whether Donald Trump is improving the US government depends on how improvement is measured, and evaluations differ sharply: What the Administration and Supporters Claim. The White House describes the period since January 2025 as "the most consequential stretch of governing in modern American history", citing:”
2govexec.comNews and mediaquality 0.87
‘Harder days ahead in 2026’: Good government group predicts increased political interference in the civil service in Trump’s second year
Backs: “What Critics and Watchdog Groups Claim. Critics argue the changes have reduced government capacity and not delivered efficiency gains: A report by the nonpartisan Partnership for Public Service on the first anniversary of Trump's second inauguration concluded that workforce reductions have "decreased the effectiveness…”