Analysis of Government Spending Under Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency

The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by Elon Musk during the Trump administration, was established with the ambitious goal of reducing federal spending by $1 trillion before October 2025. However, contrary to these claims, analyses indicate that federal spending actually increased during this period. By November 2025, federal expenditures reached approximately $7.6 trillion, marking a $248 billion increase compared to the previous year, according to the CATO Institute.

The IndependentSFistThe Sydney Morning Herald

DOGE claimed to have made over 29,000 cuts to federal spending, including significant reductions in contracts and grants. However, investigations revealed that many of these claims were inaccurate. The New York Times reported that the 13 largest savings claims made by DOGE were incorrect, including two Department of Defense contracts that were falsely listed as terminated, purportedly saving taxpayers $7.9 billion. These contracts remained active, leading to the conclusion that the reported savings were largely an "accounting mirage."

The Sydney Morning Herald

The Times' analysis highlighted that of the 40 largest claims on DOGE's "Wall of Receipts," only 12 were accurate. Issues such as double-counting savings and misattributing cuts made by the Biden administration to DOGE's efforts were prevalent. For instance, DOGE claimed savings from contracts that had already been terminated prior to its establishment, and in some cases, it inflated savings by merely lowering the theoretical ceiling of contracts without affecting actual spending.

The Sydney Morning Herald

Despite the controversies surrounding its spending cuts, DOGE did achieve a notable reduction in federal employment, decreasing it by 9% within ten months. This decline was the largest since the military demobilizations following World War II and the Korean War. The Trump administration celebrated this achievement, asserting that federal employment was at its lowest level since 2014.

The Independent

In response to the findings regarding DOGE's spending claims, a White House spokesperson reiterated President Trump's commitment to cutting waste, fraud, and abuse in government. Musk himself, in a later interview, acknowledged that while DOGE was "somewhat successful," he would not pursue such an initiative again if given the chance, suggesting a recognition of the challenges faced during its operation.

The Independent

Critics have raised concerns about the transparency and effectiveness of DOGE, describing it as chaotic and poorly managed. White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles characterized Musk's leadership as a "move fast and break things" approach, which often left the White House uninformed about significant changes until they were already underway. This sentiment reflects broader skepticism about the true intentions behind DOGE's initiatives.

The Independent

While DOGE claimed to have made substantial cuts, the discrepancies in reported savings and the overall increase in federal spending raise questions about the integrity of its operations. The lack of detailed public accounting further complicates the ability to verify DOGE's claims, leading to ongoing debates about the effectiveness of its cost-cutting measures.

The Sydney Morning Herald

• “DOGE did not reduce spending,” — CATO Institute

The Independent

• “Promises made, promise kept.” — Trump administration statement on federal employment cuts.

The Independent

• “But he also said that, if he could go back in time, he would not do it again.” — Elon Musk on DOGE's initiatives.

The Sydney Morning Herald