Federal agencies are drawing significantly more attention on X during President Donald Trump’s second administration than they did during the final year of President Joe Biden’s term, according to a new analysis from Pew Research Center.
The study found that nearly every major federal agency account examined received substantially more likes and reposts per post during Trump’s first year back in office, even though many agencies are posting at similar or lower rates than they did previously.
Pew researchers analyzed activity from 30 government-affiliated X accounts, including Cabinet-level agencies, the White House, the Department of Government Efficiency and Rapid Response 47. The analysis found that all but two of the 24 agencies with year-over-year data experienced increased engagement under Trump.
The study also found a notable shift in messaging. Words such as “American” and “president” appeared more than twice as often in agency posts compared to the final year of the Biden administration. Terms tied to immigration enforcement, manufacturing, tariffs and energy production also appeared more frequently across government accounts.
Several agencies have also removed posts made before January 2025. The State Department, Department of Defense, Justice Department, Customs and Border Protection, and the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative were among the accounts identified by Pew as having deleted or archived content from previous administrations.
Among the most prominent accounts studied was the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, which amassed nearly 4.8 million followers and generated the highest engagement levels of any government account examined. Rapid Response 47, a White House-affiliated account created in 2025, was found to be the most active account in the study, averaging nearly 40 posts per day.
Researchers said the findings reflect broader changes in how federal agencies communicate with the public on social media and how audiences engage with government messaging online.
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