Is Donald Trump improving the US government?

I'll examine recent government reforms and performance data to assess claims about improvements.

Whether Donald Trump is improving the U.S. government depends on the metrics and perspective used. Polling and reporting show a divided assessment:

What the administration and supporters point to:

The White House describes the second term as a period of major government reform, citing:

•Government efficiency reforms that have "already saved an estimated $215 billion — about $1,335 per taxpayer — and shrunk the federal workforce to its lowest level since 1966"

•Revoking the Obama-era Endangerment Finding described as "the single-largest deregulatory action in American history, worth $1.3 trillion"

•A government-wide deregulatory mandate "projected to save the U.S. economy $1.5 trillion in FY2026 alone"

•Other claims including forcing bureaucrats back into offices, shrinking bureaucracy by 10% in 2025, and cutting federal contracting and real estate costs.

Supporters argue these steps reduce waste, bureaucracy, and regulatory burden, make government more responsive, and reorient priorities around border enforcement, energy production, and government efficiency.

The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), established by executive order on January 20, 2025 and initially led by Elon Musk, was presented as central to this effort, with initial claims of $215 billion in savings. The GSA also claimed more than $60 billion in federal contract savings since January 2025.

What critics and polls show:

Other reporting and polls indicate skepticism about those improvements:

•Analysis cited that "Despite those claims, 100 days into Trump's second term, DOGE has not delivered on its promised savings, efficiency or transparency in meaningful ways", noting that DOGE's target was initially $2 trillion then reduced to $150 billionand that its claims were described as inaccurate and overstated.

•Pew Research Center in August 2025 found "a 53% majority say Trump is making the federal government work worse, while only about half as many (27%) say he is making the government work better". A September 2025 Pew survey found similar majorities say Trump definitely or probably "has not" "improved the way government works (59%)".

Polling also shows partisan division on this question:

•At least seven-in-ten Republicans say that in his current term, Trump definitely or probably has improved the way government works (74%), while nine-in-ten or more Democrats say Trump hasn't done each of these things.

•Between 76% of Republicans expected he would make government work better just after inauguration, that fell to 55% saying he is improving it by August 2025, while 87% of Democrats say he is worsening it.

Overall approval context:

Trump's overall job approval has been tracked in the high 30s to low 40s in 2025-2026 in multiple polls. Pew's August 2025 survey had approval at 38% (60% disapprove), and a September 2025 survey showed 58% disapprove while 40% approve.

In short, the White House frames actions on deregulation, workforce reduction, and cost savings as improvements to government function, while a majority of respondents in national surveys say the federal government is working worse, with views sharply divided by party.

Citations (3)

1whitehouse.govGovernment
President Trump Delivers Historic Results for the American People in Under Two Years
Backs: “Polling and reporting show a divided assessment: What the administration and supporters point to:”
2pewresearch.orgNonprofits and think tanks
Trump's Tariffs, 'Big Beautiful Bill' Viewed Negatively as His Approval Slips | Pew Research Center
Backs: “Analysis cited that "Despite those claims, 100 days into Trump's second term, DOGE has not delivered on its promised savings, efficiency or transparency in meaningful ways", noting that DOGE's target was initially $2 trillion then reduced to $150 billionand that its claims were described as inaccurate and overstated.…”
3pewresearch.orgNonprofits and think tanks
Trump is using more power than previous presidents, most Americans say | Pew Research Center
Backs: “Pew Research Center in August 2025 found "a 53% majority say Trump is making the federal government work worse, while only about half as many (27%) say he is making the government work better". A September 2025 Pew survey found similar majorities say Trump definitely or probably "has not" "improved the way government…”