In brief
A GAO report reveals that Doge’s claimed $110 bn savings were largely unsupported, with 96% of the figures lacking transparent calculations and several contract terminations never completed. The findings show that 108 of 264 leases were already ending before Doge was founded, and a $1.7 bn defence contract savings claim was unachieved. Senators Peters and Blumenthal called the watchdog work a necessary check on federal waste, while Doge, which closed last month, pledged that cost‑cutting scrutiny will continue. The report underscores the need for clearer data and accountability in federal spending initiatives.
The Government Accountability Office (GAO) has issued a comprehensive review of Doge’s claims about federal savings, concluding that many of the estimates are incorrect or lack supporting evidence.
Doge, a non‑departmental office formed during President Trump's second term and headed by Tesla and SpaceX founder Elon Musk before his departure in May 2025, reported a so‑called “Wall of Receipts” citing $110 bn in savings across contracts, grants and leases. The GAO report finds that 96% of these figures were calculated without transparent, verifiable methods.
Key findings include that 108 of 264 leases marked for termination were already in the process of ending prior to Doge’s creation, accounting for roughly $15.3 m of the claimed $53.5 m. It also documented that a $1.7 bn savings claim from ending a defence contract for IT services was unfounded, as the contract was never terminated.
The watchdog work was prompted by Democratic senators Gary Peters and Richard Blumenthal, who highlighted the importance of rooting out waste, fraud and abuse while noting that Doge was “a slapdash and deceptive effort” that misled the public.
After closing last month, Doge’s final statement pledged that its mission to eliminate waste, fraud and abuse would continue, but the GAO’s findings call into question the reliability of its reported savings and the impact on governmental efficiency.
Key points:
- GAO found 96% of Doge’s savings figures lack transparent calculation methods.
- 108 of 264 terminated leases were already ending before Doge’s establishment.
- A $1.7 bn contract savings claim was unattained.
- Senators called for tighter watchdog oversight of federal spending.
- Doge’s mission to cut government waste will continue post‑closure.
