Do You Love Me? The Effects of Budget Cuts on Intrinsic Motivation During the Trump Administration

What are the effects of budget cuts in times of illiberal populism on the professional motivation of bureaucrats? Relying on a panel study that considers longitudinal survey data from 20 U.S. federal agencies and their budget appropriations during the Trump presidency, this research causally demonstrates that the presence, not the magnitude of budget cuts, exercises a negative impact on the intrinsic motivation of civil servants. This finding suggests that despite the potential abandonment or reduction of government programs and professional limitations imposed by restrictive budgets, public employees feel aggravated and appreciate their job less when elected officials decide to reduce their expenditures. This finding contributes to the understanding of human resources management as well as the relationship between politics and administration.