Partnership for Public Service survey finds Trump administration failing to effectively manage government, federal workers’ ability to serve the public significantly worse than a year ago

March 19, 2026

New Public Service Viewpoint Survey data provides the most comprehensive perspectives on the federal employee experience at agencies including DHS, State Department and HHS under Trump administration   

WASHINGTON — The nonprofit, nonpartisan Partnership for Public Service today released data from the new Public Service Viewpoint Survey, revealing the Trump administration’s management of the federal workforce over the past year has left employees disengaged, demoralized and less effective at serving the public. Only 7.5% of employees agreed that political leaders generate high levels of motivation in the workforce, and only 22.5% were confident that they could report a suspected violation of a law, rule or regulation without experiencing retribution. 

In August 2025, the Office of Personnel Management cancelled the annual Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey. In response, the Partnership developed the proprietary Public Service Viewpoint Survey to fill this critical gap and better understand the state of federal employee engagement and its impact on effective service delivery. The survey was made available to all federal employees between Nov. 10 and Dec. 19, 2025. 

Since 2003, the Partnership’s Employee Engagement and Satisfaction Index Score has measured employee engagement across government. The 2025 government-wide Employee Engagement and Satisfaction Index Score is only 32 out of 100, and over half (58.2%) said their engagement has gotten worse since late 2024. 

The survey results also underscore that the Trump administration’s efforts to create a more efficient government have actually yielded agencies that are notably worse at serving the public. More than twice as many employees reported that agency performance and service delivery have gotten worse rather than better over the past year.  

“The results of this survey are loud and clear: The Trump administration is mismanaging our government, and the American people are facing severe consequences as a result of this malpractice,” said Max Stier, president and CEO of the Partnership for Public Service. “After the relentless and reckless attacks on our federal workforce over the past year, it was inevitable that federal employees would become disengaged, demoralized and fearful. But to see how negatively these dedicated public servants feel about their political leadership and workplace performance over the past year is incredibly alarming, especially now as the U.S. engages in a new war with Iran. No government can serve or protect the public effectively with such rampant dysfunction.” 

Stier continued, “It is long past time for our elected officials to address the Trump administration’s profound damage to our government. Congress must act now to provide greater oversight of OPM and federal agencies and protect our nonpartisan, merit-based civil service. An obvious next step would be for lawmakers to require that OPM restore the FEVS so that the public is equipped with transparent data and federal leaders are held responsible for effectively managing this vital asset for the American people.” 

Notably, the federal workforce remains committed to serving the public. Despite the challenges they faced over the past year, 95.4% of respondents said it was important to them that their work contributes to the public good. This sentiment resonates with the Partnership’s 2024 Best Places to Work in the Federal Government® findings, when 91.9% respondents agreed with the same question. 

The 2025 Public Service Viewpoint Survey captures the perspectives of 11,083 employee respondents from 17 large agencies (at least 15,000 employees) and 13 midsize agencies (1,000 to 14,999 employees) across government. In keeping with previous FEVS standards, agencies needed at least 30 respondents to report scores. A complete list of Employee Engagement and Satisfaction Index Scores and accompanying data is available here. 

Key 2025 Public Service Viewpoint Survey Results 

• Despite serving in workplaces more central to the Trump administration’s policy goals, federal employees at national security and diplomatic agencies had some of the lowest Employee Engagement and Satisfaction Index Scores. The Department of State only registered a 20.1 out of 100, and the Department of Homeland Security only registered a 26.1 out of 100.   

• With a 48.1 out of 100, the Department of the Army registered the highest score among large government agencies. However, nearly half of employees (49.5%) reported having a worse experience compared to 2024, and only 9.1% agreed that Secretary Pete Hegseth’s political leadership team generates high levels of motivation in the workforce. 

• Due to some of the most drastic restructuring and staff cuts among midsize agencies, the Department of Education and Consumer Financial Protection Bureau registered the lowest scores for employee engagement and satisfaction. The Department of Education received an index score of 17.2 out of 100, with 65.9% saying engagement is worse, and the CFPB received an index score of just 8.1 out of 100, with 85.1% saying engagement is worse. 

• Employees in STEMM-related agencies consistently demonstrated the biggest disruptions in agency performance, while experiencing some of the most substantial cuts across government.  

• At the Department of Health and Human Services, 57.8% of the workforce felt their work units were worse at meeting stakeholder demands and nearly half (47.5%) said their work units were worse at delivering quality services. 

• At the Department of the Interior, over 60% of the staff reported that their work units were worse at meeting stakeholder needs. 

• Of the 17 large agencies represented in these survey results, perceptions of political leaders were lowest at HHS. Only 2.6% of employees felt that Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and his team motivated the workforce, 2.8% said they were trusted and 4.2% felt they maintain high standards of integrity. 

Because this survey was conducted independently without the employee rosters and full suite of demographics data that enables OPM to administer the FEVS, significant methodological differences exist between them. As such, the findings in this survey are not directly comparable to past FEVS results.  

The development, administration and analysis of the Public Service Viewpoint Survey was guided by a nonpartisan advisory board of former federal human capital leaders, public administration scholars and private sector experts. To ensure results are valid and as representative as possible of the opinions of the workforce, the Partnership closely modeled eligibility requirements and the approach to response weighting to the methodology of the 2024 FEVS. Learn more about the PSVS methodology here. 

Visit the Partnership’s Federal Harms Tracker to learn more about how the Trump administration’s efforts to dismantle federal institutions, funding streams and infrastructure are disrupting critical public services and agency work. 

Check out the Partnership’s Government for a New Era Initiative to learn more about our efforts to engage Congress and other partners to help develop reforms for a more effective, responsive and accountable government. 

During the past 25 years, the nonpartisan, nonprofit Partnership for Public Service has been dedicated to building a better government and a stronger democracy. We work across administrations to help transform the way government works by providing agencies with the data insights they need to succeed, developing effective leaders, inspiring the next generation to public service, facilitating smooth presidential transitions and recognizing exceptional federal employees.      

Visit ourpublicservice.org, follow us on LinkedIn, TikTok, Instagram, Bluesky and Facebook, and subscribe today to get the latest federal news, information on upcoming Partnership programs and events, and more. 

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