Government Efficiency Department Claims $55 Billion in Taxpayer Savings Under Trump
The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) says it has saved American taxpayers an estimated $55 billion through cost-cutting measures since President Trump took office last month.
DOGE announced the figure on Monday during the launch of its new public website, explaining that the savings came from fraud detection and elimination, contract and lease cancellations or renegotiations, asset sales, grant cancellations, workforce reductions, program changes, and regulatory rollbacks.
The agency also revealed that its savings tracker will now be updated twice a week as it transitions to a “real-time” reporting system.
“Wall of Receipts” Highlights Government Spending Cuts
The revamped website includes a “Wall of Receipts” detailing hundreds of federal contracts and expenses that DOGE has targeted for reductions. Among the cost-cutting moves: eliminating government subscriptions to Politico Pro and other news outlets.
While DOGE has provided its estimate of $55 billion in savings, it remains unclear what timeframe it is using. For reference, in fiscal year 2024, which ended on September 30, the U.S. government operated with a $6.75 trillion budget and an estimated $1.8 trillion deficit.
Biggest Cuts Target USAID, Education, and Health Agencies
DOGE reports that its largest cost reductions so far have come from:
- U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)
- Department of Education
- Office of Personnel Management (OPM)
- Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
- Department of Agriculture (USDA)
USAID, which manages foreign aid and development funding, has been a major target for cuts. The Trump administration has pushed to merge USAID into the State Department, though the move is currently facing legal challenges.
Meanwhile, Trump has openly stated his desire to eliminate the Department of Education entirely, and DOGE claims it has already cut nearly $1 billion from the agency’s budget.
Elon Musk’s Role and Legal Battles
Trump first announced DOGE in November, shortly after his 2024 election victory, appointing Elon Musk and biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy as co-heads. Ramaswamy later stepped down to run for governor of Ohio.
The agency has faced heavy legal scrutiny from Democratic lawmakers and government unions, who accuse Musk of conflicts of interest due to his companies’ government contracts.
Critics also argue that DOGE has limited authority to cut spending or shut down agencies without congressional approval.
Treasury Payment Controversy and Court Challenges
Earlier this week, DOGE revealed that its team uncovered $4.7 trillion in government payments that were missing a key tracking code, making them nearly impossible to monitor.
However, on Friday, a federal judge temporarily blocked DOGE’s access to Treasury payment systems following lawsuits from 19 Democratic attorneys general challenging the agency’s authority.
Reports also suggest that DOGE has sought access to IRS taxpayer data, raising further legal concerns.
Targeting Social Security and Government Workforce Cuts
Musk has made it clear that DOGE plans to root out fraud in entitlement programs like Social Security, whose main trust fund is expected to run out in the 2030s.
Over the weekend, Michelle King, a top official at the Social Security Administration, reportedly resigned following a dispute over DOGE’s push for access to agency data.
Last week, Trump signed an executive order expanding DOGE’s powers and mandating that federal agencies only hire one new worker for every four who leave.
“They started off with 12,” Trump said in a recent speech. “I call them 12 geniuses. Then they went to 20, then 25, and now they’re up to nearly 100 people working on this.”
The New York Post reached out to a DOGE spokesperson for comment.
