Fact-Checking the Department of Government Efficiency’s (DOGE) Waste Reduction Efforts
The idea that the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has engaged in fraud is entirely unfounded. Below are some of the most widely circulated claims regarding DOGE’s findings of fraud. It is important to note that DOGE is not an official government agency as of March 5, 2025, and Elon Musk is not an official federal employee. According to the Trump administration, Musk is classified as a “special government employee.”
Pentagon Budget Cuts – $80 Million in Waste Reduction
Claim:
DOGE, in collaboration with the Department of Defense (DoD), identified $80 million in government waste, cutting programs deemed non-essential, such as DEI initiatives and historical/cultural celebrations.
Fact-Check:
According to Chief Pentagon Spokesman Sean Parnell, several programs were flagged for reduction:
- $1.9 million for holistic diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) training within the Air Force.
- $6 million for a University of Montana initiative aimed at “strengthening American democracy by bridging divides.”
- $3.5 million by the Defense Human Resources Activity to fund DEI-related groups.
- $1.6 million to the University of Florida for research on climate resilience in the African Sahel.
The DoD has acknowledged DOGE’s role in reviewing and cutting these programs, which were deemed non-essential. However, only a portion of the $80 million has been accounted for. The most accurate assessment is that DOGE’s actions reflect a reallocation of funds, rather than uncovering actual government fraud.
Federal Employee Contract Terminations – 3,000+ Contracts Canceled
Claim:
DOGE reports that 3,000–3,500 federal employee contracts were canceled to eliminate wasteful employment.
Fact-Check:
This claim is partially verified. DOGE’s official website reports that 2,334 contracts had been canceled by early March, with 128 contracts terminated in a single day in late February, resulting in $60 million in reported savings.
However, an Associated Press review found that one-third of these cancellations will yield no long-term savings, as many contracts were already fulfilled or one-time agreements. While DOGE has facilitated these cancellations, much of the money is being reallocated into other government programs. The claim that these programs were purely wasteful remains a widely debated issue.
Agency Downsizing – Inter-American Foundation Reduced to One Employee
Claim:
DOGE states that the Inter-American Foundation (IAF) reduced its staff to one employee after following DOGE’s recommendations to cut costs and eliminate unnecessary operations.
Fact-Check:
This claim is entirely accurate.
- The IAF, previously employing 48 staff members with a $60 million budget, was reduced to a single employee.
- This move effectively shut down its foreign aid programs.
- The following grants were canceled:
- $903,811 for alpaca farming in Peru.
- $364,500 for an anti-discrimination initiative in Bolivia.
- $813,210 for community vegetable gardens in El Salvador.
- $731,105 for mushroom and pea farming in Guatemala.
The IAF’s operations were essentially shut down, making this one of DOGE’s most substantial cuts.
Potential Cuts to Medicare and Social Security
Currently, not all cuts will result in direct savings for American taxpayers. If DOGE aims to reduce government spending on the scale it has suggested, major cuts to Medicare and Social Security may be unavoidable. These programs constitute a large portion of national spending, and cutting them could be framed as an effort to eliminate “waste.”
Elon Musk and DOGE have also claimed that millions of deceased individuals are receiving Social Security checks, suggesting that Social Security and Medicare are riddled with fraud. However, these claims have been debunked, and there is no credible evidence to suggest these programs are fraudulent.
Conclusion: Has DOGE Found Real Fraud?
As of March 11, 2025, DOGE has not found any substantial evidence of government fraud. The programs it has cut were either reallocated, canceled, or deemed unnecessary based on its own assessment.
The three biggest claims put forward by DOGE supporters—that it has uncovered fraud—are inaccurate. Instead, the programs targeted for cuts are primarily foreign aid initiatives and DEI programs, not fraudulent expenditures.
DOGE has found zero real fraud.
