Some of Doge’s $110bn saving reports are wrong or lack evidence, US watchdog finds
A US watchdog has found that some of the savings claimed by Doge, the body set up under President Trump to cut federal spending, were overstated, incorrect, or unsupported by evidence. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) review examined Doge's "Wall of Receipts", which listed $110bn in reported savings across government contracts, grants and leases, and concluded that the body had failed to provide sufficient information to verify how the vast majority of these figures were calculated.
The GAO said Doge could not substantiate the method used to calculate 96% of its reported savings, and highlighted specific errors, including 108 of 264 leases claimed as terminations that were already ending before Doge existed, accounting for around $15.3m of a $53.5m total. It also found a claimed $1.7bn saving from cancelling a defence department IT contract that was never actually terminated. Doge, led initially by Elon Musk before he departed in May 2025, had promised savings of up to $2tn a year but by its own account reached only $214bn; it was disbanded last month, with the White House saying employees had followed ethics and disclosure rules.
In short
- GAO watchdog finds Doge's $110bn savings claims often unverifiable or wrong
- 96% of reported savings lacked sufficient calculation evidence
- Doge, once run by Musk, closed last month after falling short of goals
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Government efficiency initiatives across federal agencies inevitably encounter complexity in verifying savings, and some measurement challenges in a new department should not invalidate the core mission; whilst the GAO identified issues requiring correction, these appear to be implementation problems in a pioneering effort, and Doge's existence may have legitimately catalysed valuable efficiency discussions within government.
The case against
The GAO found that 96 per cent of Doge's claimed $110bn in savings lacked substantiation, with specific errors such as counting non-existent contract cancellations and leases already ending as achievements. When a department designed to eliminate government waste cannot verify its own results, this indicates a fundamental problem with rigour and accountability rather than minor technical issues.
Explained simply
The Department of Government Efficiency, known as Doge, was set up by President Donald Trump to reduce US federal spending. It published claimed savings from changes to government contracts, grants and property leases on a public “Wall of Receipts”.
The Government Accountability Office is an independent body that examines how the federal government uses public money. Its reviews can help Congress and the public assess whether government figures are supported by records and clear calculations.
Doge was initially led by Elon Musk, who left in May 2025, and it was later disbanded. Its claims matter because they concern how the government accounts for spending cuts and whether reported savings can be checked.
Americas Government Politics World