Data reveals 22-point spread between highest and lowest performing agencies as Trump's DOGE prepares reform agenda

As the Biden administration highlights record gains in citizen satisfaction with federal services and the incoming Trump administration promises sweeping efficiency reforms, the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI®) introduces a new "Efficiency Gap" metric that provides critical insights into federal government performance through citizen experience data.

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ACSI Efficiency Gap 2021-2024 (Graphic: Business Wire)

The timing is particularly relevant as the newly announced Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) prepares to tackle federal cost-cutting initiatives. The ACSI Efficiency Gap metric reveals significant variations across federal departments, with some performing up to 13% above the federal average while others lag by as much as 9% below — insights that could prove valuable for targeted reform efforts.

"Just last week, the White House highlighted our data showing the largest 4-year gain in citizen satisfaction since the ACSI began measuring in 1999," says Forrest Morgeson, Associate Professor of Marketing at Michigan State University and Director of Research Emeritus at the ACSI. "Now, our new Efficiency Gap metric digs deeper into where federal services excel and where they fall short in the eyes of citizens. This information could prove vital as the incoming administration focuses on government efficiency."

The Department of the Interior, which includes national parks, leads all federal entities with performance 13% above the federal average. The Department of Energy and Office of Personnel Management both follow at 7% above average efficiency. Conversely, the Internal Revenue Service shows the largest efficiency gap at 9% below average, while Border Protection (-8%) and the Census Bureau (-7%) also demonstrate lower efficiency scores.

The Efficiency Gap metric is calculated by comparing the average scores of four core drivers —process efficiency, information accessibility, customer service, and website functionality — for each department against the federal government average during the Biden presidency (2021-2024). Departments with positive percentages are perceived by citizens as delivering above-average, more efficient performance, while negative percentages indicate below-average efficiency and areas with the greatest opportunity for improvement.

"These findings offer a citizen-centric view of government efficiency that complements traditional cost-cutting approaches," adds Morgeson. "As DOGE begins its efficiency initiatives, this data highlights both improvement opportunities and high-performing services that citizens value, such as our national parks system."

The Efficiency Gap metric expands upon ACSI's Federal Government Study 2024, which recently reported citizen satisfaction reaching a seven-year high of 69.7 (out of 100). The study provides incoming administration officials with comprehensive data on citizen perceptions of government performance.

For additional data and analysis of citizen and customer satisfaction, follow the ACSI on LinkedIn and X at @theACSI.

No advertising or other promotional use can be made of the data and information in this release without the express prior written consent of ACSI LLC.

About the ACSI

The American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI^®) has been a national economic indicator for over 25 years. It measures and analyzes customer satisfaction with approximately 400 companies in about 40 industries and 10 economic sectors, including various services of federal and local government agencies. Reported on a scale of 0 to 100, scores are based on data from roughly 200,000 responses annually. For more information, visit www.theacsi.org.

ACSI and its logo are Registered Marks of American Customer Satisfaction Index LLC.

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