Is Donald Trump improving the US government?

This is a deeply contested political question where reasonable people disagree based on their values and priorities, so I can't give a definitive yes/no answer. What I can do is share some factual context on specific actions and their outcomes, along with how different groups view them.## This is genuinely contested — here's what the evidence shows from multiple angles

Whether Trump is "improving" the government depends heavily on what you value (smaller government vs. institutional stability, deregulation vs. oversight, etc.) and which metrics you prioritize. I can't give you a neutral "yes" or "no," but here's a factual snapshot of both the administration's own claims and independent assessments:

What the administration points to as improvements

•Government downsizing: by the end of February 2025, more than 30,000 federal positions had been eliminated or reclassified as at-will roles, reducing union protections, which supporters argued improved efficiency while critics pointed to lawsuits from federal employee unions.

•Executive action volume: as of September 30, 2025, Trump had signed 209 executive orders, 52 memoranda, and 91 proclamations, compared with 64 executive orders, 25 memoranda, and 51 proclamations by Biden in the equivalent period in 2021 — framed by supporters as decisive leadership.

•Energy and border metrics: U.S. crude oil production reached roughly 13.6 million barrels per day in 2025, a record, and border officials reported 14 consecutive months with fewer than 9,000 daily apprehensions.

•Tariff revenue: the White House highlighted almost $90 billion in tariff duties collected since January 2025, though critics note tariffs function as consumer taxes.

What independent polling and fact-checks show

•Public approval of government management has fallen, including among Trump's own base: this decline appears to be driven primarily by reduced approval among Republicans — in March, 81% of Republicans approved of Trump's management of the federal government, falling to 68% by November.

•Overall job approval has trended down from the start of the term: Trump's job approval rating was 34% as of mid-July 2026, lower than his rating at a comparable point in his first term and lower than most other recent presidents at similar stages.

•Pew specifically asked about "the way the federal government works": six months into his term, far more Americans said Trump was making the way the federal government works worse than making it better.

•Some administration claims have been found exaggerated, e.g., on investment commitments: Trump said the U.S. had "secured a record-breaking $18 trillion in commitments for new investments," but the White House website has shown a figure of $9.6 trillion since mid-November, and experts cautioned that some of the $9.6 trillion in pledges may not materialize and others are unrealistically large compared to the involved countries' GDP.

•Critics raise institutional/rule-of-law concerns: some commentators describe actions like "defying courts, pardons for January 6 defendants, targeting judges and using agencies against critics" as evidence of democratic backsliding, while supporters frame the same actions as fulfilling campaign mandates.

Bottom line

There's no consensus "fact" that settles this — it's a value-laden judgment. Supporters see a leaner, faster-moving government delivering on campaign promises (deportations, deregulation, energy output, tariff leverage). Critics see falling public trust (even among Republicans), legal and institutional friction, and gaps between rhetoric and verified outcomes. I'd encourage looking at the specific policy area you care about most (economy, immigration, foreign policy, rule of law) rather than seeking one overall verdict, since different domains show very different trajectories.

Citations (11)

1stl.newsNews and media
President Trump's Second Term Accomplishment to Present
Source excerpt: “Government Restructuring and Efficiency Initiatives By the end of February, the administration reported that **more than 30,000 federal positions** ha...”
2substack.comBlogs and newsletters
Trump Administration Accomplishments in 2025
Source excerpt: “For example, as of September 30, 2025, President Trump has signed 209 executive orders, 52 memoranda, and 91 proclamations since his inauguration on 2...”
3stl.newsNews and media
Trump’s Second Term: The Data Behind the Accomplishments and the Fight Over the Narrative in 2026
Source excerpt: “U.S. crude oil production reached approximately 13.6 million barrels per day in 2025, setting a record annual level. ”
4stl.newsNews and media
Trump’s Second Term: The Data Behind the Accomplishments and the Fight Over the Narrative in 2026
Source excerpt: “Federal border officials reported extended periods of sharply reduced southwest border apprehensions, including 14 consecutive months with fewer than ...”
5factually.coLow provenance
the top 10 positive accomplishments of donald trump's ...
Source excerpt: “Tariffs and Treasury receipts: a revenue talking point** The White House highlights almost $90 billion in tariff duties collected since January 2025 ...”
6apnorc.orgAcademic
Trump’s approval rating remains low during government shutdown - AP-NORC
Source excerpt: “This decline appears to be driven primarily by reduced approval among Republicans. In March, 81% of Republicans approved of Trump’s management of the ...”
7pewresearch.orgNonprofits and think tanks
Trump’s job approval rating is low by historical standards
Source excerpt: “# Trump’s job approval rating is low by historical standards President Donald Trump’s job approval rating – 34% as of mid-July – has changed little ov...”
8pewresearch.orgNonprofits and think tanks
Trump's Tariffs, 'Big Beautiful Bill' Viewed Negatively as His Approval Slips
Source excerpt: “This drop is attributable to a combination of declining approval among his 2024 backers and adults who ... Six months into his term, far more say Pre...”
9wral.comNews and mediaquality 0.88
Fact-checking Donald Trump’s claims about his second term accomplishments :: WRAL.com
Source excerpt: “He said **the U.S. has "secured a record-breaking $18 trillion in commitments for new investments."** The White House website since mid-November has s...”
10wral.comNews and mediaquality 0.88
Fact-checking Donald Trump’s claims about his second term accomplishments :: WRAL.com
Source excerpt: “In addition, experts have cautioned PolitiFact that some of the $9.6 trillion in pledges may not come to fruition and others are unrealistically large...”
11factually.coLow provenance
the top 10 negative accomplishments of donald trump's ...
Source excerpt: “A collapsing popularity score that fuels political peril** Opinion pieces argue Trump’s second term has been marked by assaults on democratic norms...”