DOGE claims of saving $110 billion are incorrect and unreliable, watchdog says
GAO Report: DOGE's $110 Billion Savings Claims Lack Reliability
Activelifezero.com – A federal audit has questioned the accuracy of DOGE claims of saving 110 billion dollars, finding significant gaps in documentation and calculation methods. The Government Accountability Office released its findings Thursday, concluding that the Department of Government Efficiency's headline-grabbing savings figures contain substantial inaccuracies that undermine their credibility.
Elon Musk's efficiency initiative had made ambitious promises during its operation, pledging to reduce federal expenditures by $2 trillion while maintaining public accountability through an online tracking platform called the Wall of Receipts. However, the GAO's comprehensive review revealed that several of these claimed savings were either miscalculated or lacked the supporting evidence necessary for verification.
Lease and Contract Termination Errors
The watchdog agency examined $110 billion worth of contracts, grants, and leases that DOGE documented on its website between January 20, 2025, and July 7. One particularly notable finding concerned lease terminations: of the 264 leases that DOGE identified for cancellation, 108 were already in the process of ending before the department was established following Donald Trump's return to the presidency.
This timing error resulted in DOGE overstating its lease savings by more than $80 million. The agency also discovered problems with contract termination reporting. More than half of the contracts listed on DOGE's platform were either still active or lacked sufficient information for auditors to confirm their status.
Some savings claims appeared particularly problematic. The GAO noted that the basis for a $1.7 billion savings figure attributed to a Department of Defense contract remained unclear, since that contract was never actually terminated. Additionally, DOGE failed to provide adequate details to verify the methodology it used to calculate 96 percent of its grant savings.
Methodology Concerns and Documentation Gaps
Beyond individual savings claims, the audit raised broader concerns about DOGE's approach to calculating financial reductions. The agency did not consistently apply its stated methodology when determining savings from contracts that DOGE reported as terminated. US DOGE Service officials did not respond to multiple requests for additional information during the review process.
The GAO's findings represent the latest in a series of analyses questioning DOGE's financial claims. Several news organizations, including CNN, have previously identified notable errors on DOGE's website. The platform's most recent update, dated January 1, showed $215 billion in estimated savings. This figure included savings beyond the Wall of Receipts list of contracts, leases, and grants.
DOGE's savings claims fell considerably short of Musk's original projections. The initiative played a central role in Trump administration efforts to restructure the federal government during the president's second term. Staff members were embedded throughout various agencies to identify opportunities for reducing expenditures, including ending programs and canceling obligations.
Political Response and What Comes Next
The audit was initiated at the request of Democratic Senators Gary Peters of Michigan and Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut, both of whom criticized DOGE's approach to government efficiency. Peters issued a statement characterizing the initiative as fundamentally flawed in its execution.
Everyone supports rooting out waste, fraud, and abuse in the federal government, but DOGE was a slapdash and deceptive effort that misled the American people while doing real damage to the government's ability to serve them.
The DOGE initiative was scheduled to conclude operations last month, though some of its personnel have remained with various federal agencies. The White House has been contacted for additional comment on the findings.
Frequently Asked Questions
What did the GAO find wrong with DOGE's savings claims? The Government Accountability Office discovered that many of DOGE's savings claims lacked proper documentation, included contracts that were never actually terminated, and counted lease terminations that were already in progress before DOGE was established.
How much did DOGE overstate its lease savings? The audit found that DOGE overstated lease savings by more than $80 million because 108 of the 264 leases it claimed to have terminated were already ending before the department was created.
Who requested the GAO audit? Democratic Senators Gary Peters of Michigan and Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut requested the investigation into DOGE's financial reporting methods.
When is DOGE expected to finish its work? The initiative was scheduled to conclude operations last month, though some staff members have continued working within various federal agencies.