Is Donald Trump improving the US government?

Short answer: it depends on what you mean by “improving.” If we look at commonly used yardsticks of government performance through today (October 26, 2026), the picture is mixed.

Where the evidence points to strain or decline

•Stability/continuity of operations: The federal government experienced a 43‑day, government‑wide shutdown from October 1 to November 12, 2025, and a DHS‑only shutdown from February 14 to April 30, 2026. Both disrupted services and delayed key data releases.[1]

•Workforce health and management: OPM canceled the 2025 Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey; the Partnership for Public Service’s substitute survey reported sharply lower engagement (index ~32/100) compared with 2024.[2]

•Independent assessments of program risk: GAO’s 2025 High‑Risk List shows 38 problem areas; several regressed (e.g., IT acquisition/management, federal real property, DOD weapons acquisition). That implies persistent or worsening management challenges.[3]

•Public confidence: Multiple 2026 polls show trust in the federal government and approval of Trump’s handling of government functions have fallen this year. In 2025, a Pew survey already found more Americans said Trump was making government work worse than better.[4]

•Immigration service delivery: Backlogs and wait times at USCIS have grown in 2026, with outside analysts attributing part of the increase to policy and process changes.[5]

•Fiscal footing: CBO estimates the FY2026 deficit at about $1.9 trillion; Treasury data show net interest costs at roughly $1.05 trillion for FY2026 and total federal debt near $40.2 trillion as of September 2026. High interest costs reduce budget flexibility.[6]

Where there are tangible changes that could be seen as improvements

•Service modernization: The administration launched America.gov (a single, AI‑assisted entry point to federal services) and directed agencies toward a universal sign‑on via Login.gov—both aimed at simplifying access. Early reviews note potential but also growing pains with answer quality.[7]

•Regulatory coordination: Executive Order 14215 extended White House (OIRA) review to independent regulatory agencies for significant rules. Supporters call this accountability and coherence; critics see politicization and slower rulemaking.[8]

•Drug‑price initiatives: TrumpRx.gov and “most‑favored‑nation”–style agreements seek to lower some out‑of‑pocket prices outside insurance channels. Early assessments suggest limited scope so far and uneven savings across drugs.[9]

•Appointments: Independent trackers report a faster pace of confirmations than in Trump’s first term, which can help fill leadership gaps—though turnover among political appointees remains high by historical standards.[10]

Bottom line

•If “improving” means centralizing executive control, accelerating deregulation, and launching high‑visibility service portals, you can point to clear actions.[8]

•If it means a steadier, more trusted, and smoothly functioning civil service that avoids disruptions and reduces high‑risk program areas, recent shutdowns, lower workforce engagement, and declining public trust argue the opposite.[11]

If you tell me which dimensions you care about most (service delivery, ethics and trust, budgets, regulation, workforce, etc.), I can drill down with the latest data specific to that.

Citations (11)

1bls.govGovernment
2025 federal government shutdown impact on the Consumer Price Index : U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Backs: “The federal government experienced a 43‑day, government‑wide shutdown from October 1 to November 12, 2025, and a DHS‑only shutdown from February 14 to April 30, 2026. Both disrupted services and delayed key data releases.”
2federalnewsnetwork.comNews and mediaquality 0.93
After months of postponing, OPM opts to fully cancel 2025 FEVS | Federal News Network
Backs: “OPM canceled the 2025 Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey; the Partnership for Public Service’s substitute survey reported sharply lower engagement (index ~32/100) compared with 2024.”
3gao.govGovernment
High Risk List | U.S. GAO
Backs: “GAO’s 2025 High‑Risk List shows 38 problem areas; several regressed (e.g., IT acquisition/management, federal real property, DOD weapons acquisition). That implies persistent or worsening management challenges.”
4gallup.comCompanies
Trust in Federal Government Sinks to New Depths
Backs: “In 2025, a Pew survey already found more Americans said Trump was making government work worse than better.”
5niskanencenter.orgNot yet classified
Legal immigration in numbers: August 2026 status update - Niskanen Center
Backs: “Backlogs and wait times at USCIS have grown in 2026, with outside analysts attributing part of the increase to policy and process changes.”
6cbo.govGovernment
The Budget and Economic Outlook: 2026 to 2036 | Congressional Budget Office
Backs: “Treasury data show net interest costs at roughly $1.05 trillion for FY2026 and total federal debt near $40.2 trillion as of September 2026. High interest costs reduce budget flexibility.”
7whitehouse.govGovernment
Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Streamlines Access to Government Services Through America.gov – The White House
Backs: “Early reviews note potential but also growing pains with answer quality.”
8govinfo.govGovernment
DCPD202500277
Backs: “Supporters call this accountability and coherence; critics see politicization and slower rulemaking.”
9apnews.comNews and mediaquality 1.00
Trump administration launches TrumpRx website for discounted drugs
Backs: “Early assessments suggest limited scope so far and uneven savings across drugs.”
10brookings.eduNonprofits and think tanks
The first 100 days of confirmations in the second Trump administration | Brookings
Backs: “Independent trackers report a faster pace of confirmations than in Trump’s first term, which can help fill leadership gaps—though turnover among political appointees remains high by historical standards.”
11everycrsreport.comEncyclopedias and referencequality 0.91
The 2025 (FY2026) Government Shutdown: Economic Effects - EveryCRSReport.com
Backs: “If it means a steadier, more trusted, and smoothly functioning civil service that avoids disruptions and reduces high‑risk program areas, recent shutdowns, lower workforce engagement, and declining public trust argue the opposite.”