The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by billionaire Elon Musk has reportedly struggled to deliver on its ambitious pledge to slash US government spending and has achieved only a fraction of its claimed $170 billion savings. According to a report by Financial Times, DOGE’s website claims $170bn in savings and it is an inflated figure. “In all likelihood, the amount of claimed savings from Doge is significantly less than what Elon Musk originally wanted. DOGE should not be seen as a very successful deficit reduction effort,”Dominik Lett, an analyst at the free-market Cato Institute told FT.
Elon Musk’s DOGE missed targetsAs per the report, Initially, Musk promised to cut $2 trillion from federal spending, later revising the target to $1 trillion, and eventually settling on $150 billion when DOGE formally launched. However, a Financial Times investigation found that fewer than half of DOGE’s claimed savings are verifiable.
Of the $170 billion advertised, only 18% corresponds to itemized cancellations, and a third of those were preexisting contract expirations rather than actual cuts. Analysts estimate that DOGE has achieved less than half of its revised savings goal.
The report also highlights that overall government spending has continued to increase despite DOGE's efforts. This calls into question the actual impact and effectiveness of the department in achieving its stated objectives.
While Musk initially gained support from figures like Senator Bernie Sanders, concerns grew within the White House over DOGE’s lack of understanding of agency missions. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and Secretary of State Marco Rubio openly clashed with Musk’s team, prompting President Donald Trump to urge a more measured approach.
Despite setbacks, DOGE continues to operate, with Musk reducing his involvement to focus on his businesses. The initiative, originally set to end in 2026, has now been extended until 2028, raising questions about its long-term effectiveness.
Elon Musk’s DOGE missed targetsAs per the report, Initially, Musk promised to cut $2 trillion from federal spending, later revising the target to $1 trillion, and eventually settling on $150 billion when DOGE formally launched. However, a Financial Times investigation found that fewer than half of DOGE’s claimed savings are verifiable.
Of the $170 billion advertised, only 18% corresponds to itemized cancellations, and a third of those were preexisting contract expirations rather than actual cuts. Analysts estimate that DOGE has achieved less than half of its revised savings goal.
The report also highlights that overall government spending has continued to increase despite DOGE's efforts. This calls into question the actual impact and effectiveness of the department in achieving its stated objectives.
While Musk initially gained support from figures like Senator Bernie Sanders, concerns grew within the White House over DOGE’s lack of understanding of agency missions. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and Secretary of State Marco Rubio openly clashed with Musk’s team, prompting President Donald Trump to urge a more measured approach.
Despite setbacks, DOGE continues to operate, with Musk reducing his involvement to focus on his businesses. The initiative, originally set to end in 2026, has now been extended until 2028, raising questions about its long-term effectiveness.
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