Is Donald Trump improving the US government?

Short answer: it depends on what you mean by “improving.” On several measures the Trump administration has advanced its stated goals; on others, outcomes and expert assessments are mixed or negative. A quick, data-based snapshot as of October 30, 2026:

Where supporters see improvement

•Economic growth: Real GDP grew at a 3.4% annual rate in Q3 2026, while inflation (PCE) was 3.4% year-over-year in August—better growth than earlier in the year but with price pressures still above the Fed’s 2% target.[1]

•Immigration enforcement: Border encounters fell sharply compared with a year earlier after policy changes such as reinstating “Remain in Mexico”–style measures and curbing parole programs; independent tallies also show elevated removals.[2]

•Deregulation and permitting: A sweeping “one-in, ten-out” approach and related executive orders directed agencies to roll back rules and speed approvals (including energy projects), which the administration argues lowers costs and improves government responsiveness.[3]

•Trade as industrial policy: A universal 10% tariff was imposed using emergency authorities, with additional Section 232 and 301 actions—framed as strengthening sovereignty and domestic industry.[4]

Where critics see harm or risks

•Fiscal outlook: The 2026 federal deficit is about $1.9 trillion (≈5.8% of GDP) under current-law projections; CBO attributes a large part of the worsened 10‑year outlook to 2025 legislation and policy changes.[5]

•Costs from tariffs: CBO projects that the post‑2025 tariff regime reduces efficiency and growth by raising import costs and discouraging investment—an ongoing drag even if near‑term GDP is strong.[5]

•Politicization of the civil service: Orders to reclassify or streamline large swaths of federal jobs (reviving and revising “Schedule F”-style policies) aim to increase accountability, but watchdogs warn of eroding merit protections and capacity as career leadership shrinks.[6]

•Press access and checks and balances: Federal courts have ordered the White House to restore access for several outlets after bans the judge said likely violated the First Amendment, underscoring concerns about transparency.[7]

•Governance capacity: GAO and OPM data show rapid organizational and workforce changes, including reductions in some oversight offices—supporters call it “rightsizing,” while GAO flags execution and transparency risks.[8]

Context that cuts both ways

•Public sentiment: National surveys in October 2026 show Trump’s approval below 40% and trust in the federal government at or near historic lows—useful for judging perceived “improvement,” though views are highly polarized.[9]

•Courts and the regulatory state: The Supreme Court’s 2024 Loper Bright decision (overruling Chevron) curtails judicial deference to agencies, amplifying presidential and judicial roles in policymaking regardless of who is in power.[10]

Bottom line: If “improving” means prioritizing border enforcement, deregulation, faster permitting, and a more politically directed bureaucracy, you’ll likely say yes. If it means stronger institutional guardrails, lower deficits, technocratic capacity, and less polarization, the evidence points the other way.

If you tell me which aspects you care about—economy, immigration, environment, civil service, press freedom, or fiscal health—I can dig deeper with the most relevant data.[11]

Citations (11)

1bea.govGovernment
GDP (Advance Estimate), 3rd Quarter 2026 | U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA)
Backs: “Real GDP grew at a 3.4% annual rate in Q3 2026, while inflation (PCE) was 3.4% year-over-year in August—better growth than earlier in the year but with price pressures still above the Fed’s 2% target.”
2pewresearch.orgNonprofits and think tanks
Migrant encounters at US-Mexico border at lowest level in over 50 years | Pew Research Center
Backs: “Border encounters fell sharply compared with a year earlier after policy changes such as reinstating “Remain in Mexico”–style measures and curbing parole programs; independent tallies also show elevated removals.”
3reginfo.govGovernment
https://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/eAgendaEO14192
Backs: “A sweeping “one-in, ten-out” approach and related executive orders directed agencies to roll back rules and speed approvals (including energy projects), which the administration argues lowers costs and improves government responsiveness.”
4whitehouse.govGovernment
Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Declares National Emergency to Increase our Competitive Edge, Protect our Sovereignty, and Strengthen our National and Economic Security – The White House
Backs: “A universal 10% tariff was imposed using emergency authorities, with additional Section 232 and 301 actions—framed as strengthening sovereignty and domestic industry.”
5cbo.govGovernment
The Budget and Economic Outlook: 2026 to 2036 | Congressional Budget Office
Backs: “CBO attributes a large part of the worsened 10‑year outlook to 2025 legislation and policy changes.”
6everycrsreport.comEncyclopedias and referencequality 0.91
A New Civil Service “Policy/Career” Schedule: Issues for Lawmakers - EveryCRSReport.com
Backs: “Orders to reclassify or streamline large swaths of federal jobs (reviving and revising “Schedule F”-style policies) aim to increase accountability, but watchdogs warn of eroding merit protections and capacity as career leadership shrinks.”
7axios.comNews and mediaquality 0.90
Judge orders White House to reinstate press access until litigation concludes
Backs: “Federal courts have ordered the White House to restore access for several outlets after bans the judge said likely violated the First Amendment, underscoring concerns about transparency.”
8gao.govGovernment
GAOverview: Recent Federal Workforce Changes at OPM | U.S. GAO
Backs: “GAO and OPM data show rapid organizational and workforce changes, including reductions in some oversight offices—supporters call it “rightsizing,” while GAO flags execution and transparency risks.”
9pewresearch.orgNonprofits and think tanks
Trump’s Approval Rating Drops as Fewer Americans Are Confident in His Handling of the Economy, Other Issues | Pew Research Center
Backs: “National surveys in October 2026 show Trump’s approval below 40% and trust in the federal government at or near historic lows—useful for judging perceived “improvement,” though views are highly polarized.”
10supremecourt.govGovernment
22-451 Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo (06/28/2024)
Backs: “The Supreme Court’s 2024 Loper Bright decision (overruling Chevron) curtails judicial deference to agencies, amplifying presidential and judicial roles in policymaking regardless of who is in power.”
11usa.govGovernment
Presidents, vice presidents, and first ladies | USAGov
Backs: “If you tell me which aspects you care about—economy, immigration, environment, civil service, press freedom, or fiscal health—I can dig deeper with the most relevant data.”