Since Donald Trump’s return to office, Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (Doge) claims it has saved over $10 billion every week by cutting government waste. Musk’s aggressive cost-cutting plan has received praise from Trump, who recently said in an interview, “Almost $200 billion saved and climbing rapidly.”
Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) says its goal is simple: end expensive contracts, cancel wasteful grants and leases, reduce government staff, and fight fraud. Musk promised major savings in October, targeting a $2 trillion reduction in the federal budget. He later lowered that goal to $1 trillion.
On April 10, Musk updated his target, saying Doge had already saved $150 billion and aimed to reach $200 billion by 2026. Considering the federal budget was $6.75 trillion last year, these numbers are ambitious.
Doge features a savings counter on its website, showing $160 billion saved as of April 20. However, less than 40% of that amount comes with detailed proof. After downloading Doge’s records on April 23, reviewers found that only about half of the listed savings have links to official documents.
In addition, Doge has made notable errors. For example, it claimed an $8 billion savings from canceling an immigration deal that was actually worth just $8 million. Doge responded by saying it aims to upload receipts “clearly and transparently,” but so far, receipts only cover about 30% of the total savings. Some documents are missing “for legal reasons,” Doge says.
A Closer Look at Doge’s Biggest Claims
Analysts examined Doge’s four largest reported savings, focusing only on those tied to actual receipts. Together, these savings are said to total $8.3 billion. But deeper investigation suggests these numbers may be inflated.
Many claims are based on data from the Federal Procurement Data System (FPDS), which tracks government contracts. David Drabkin, one of the FPDS creators, warned that contract numbers often show the maximum possible spending, not what the government has actually paid.
For example, research contracts for vaccine development might list a ceiling amount but not guarantee that full amount will be spent. This means counting the full value as savings could be misleading.
The Migrant Child Facility Contract
Doge’s biggest reported saving—$2.9 billion—comes from canceling a migrant child housing facility in Texas. Doge calculated this amount by subtracting money already spent from the contract’s total value through 2028.
However, the contract required annual renewals, making it uncertain whether it would have continued until 2028. A source familiar with the deal said Doge’s figure was based on “speculative, unused amounts,” and the actual savings were closer to $153 million. Also, the facility never reached its full 3,000-child capacity; it peaked at about 2,000 before declining.
Attempts to contact the agency that awarded the contract have not yet been answered.
IRS IT Contract with Centennial Technologies
Doge’s second-biggest reported saving involves canceling a $1.9 billion IRS IT contract with Centennial Technologies. The linked document shows a $1.9 billion value but no recorded spending.
David Drabkin noted that missing spending figures don’t always mean no money was spent because agencies sometimes fail to update records. Centennial’s CEO told the media the contract ended during President Biden’s administration, not under Trump. Centennial Technologies did not respond to requests for comment.
Department of Defense IT Contract
Another major saving claim comes from canceling a Department of Defense IT contract with A1FEDIMPACT. Doge claims $1.76 billion saved, based on the contract’s $2.4 billion ceiling value.
But FPDS records showed no spending had occurred yet. Higher Gov, a public contract database, also listed the $2.4 billion as the maximum possible value, not money already committed. The Pentagon and A1FEDIMPACT have not yet provided clarification.
USAID Grant to Gavi
Doge’s fourth-largest saving comes from ending a grant to Gavi, a global vaccine alliance. Doge reported $1.75 billion in savings. However, records show Gavi received $880 million during Biden’s presidency.
Gavi confirmed the $880 million payment and said it had not received any termination notice from USAID. A source familiar with the grant said there is no clear basis for Doge’s $1.75 billion saving claim. USAID’s Office of Inspector General has not yet commented.
Big Promises, Unclear Proof
There is no doubt Doge has taken steps to reduce government spending. However, the missing receipts, incorrect figures, and lack of clarity surrounding its largest savings claims make independent verification difficult.
Without full documentation, it is hard for experts and the public to trust Doge’s savings totals completely. As the 2026 goal of $200 billion approaches, greater transparency and proof will be needed to validate Musk’s ambitious promises.