Did Elon Musk's DOGE really save billions? A federal audit raises questions

A federal watchdog has raised fresh questions about the cost-saving claims made by Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), concluding that several figures highlighted by the agency could not be fully verified and, in some cases, did not result in any actual savings.

The findings come after lawmakers asked the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to review the accuracy of DOGE's publicly reported savings, adding new scrutiny to one of the Trump administration's most high-profile government reform initiatives.

Audit flags inaccuracies in DOGE's 'Wall of Receipts'

At the centre of the review was DOGE's online "Wall of Receipts," a webpage launched in February 2025 to showcase billions of dollars in claimed savings from cancelled federal contracts, grants and property leases.


According to the GAO, several of those figures were either unsupported or overstated.

Auditors found that 108 of the 264 federal leases listed as terminated by DOGE had already been scheduled for cancellation before the department was created, meaning the savings could not be solely attributed to the agency's actions.

The report also identified a major discrepancy involving a Department of Defense IT services contract. DOGE claimed the cancellation generated $1.7 billion in savings, but auditors found the contract was never actually terminated, resulting in no realised savings.

Lack of transparency draws criticism

Beyond the individual cases, the GAO said it was unable to determine how many of DOGE's calculations were made because officials did not provide information explaining their methodology.

According to the report, requests for details about how the agency calculated its savings went unanswered.

The watchdog warned that the absence of transparent documentation limits the usefulness of the published figures for lawmakers and reduces public confidence in government reporting.

It also stressed that reliable government data are essential for informed policymaking and maintaining trust in public institutions.

DOGE claimed $110 billion in savings before closure

DOGE began publishing its savings estimates in February 2025 and reported $110 billion in total savings as of July 7 through reductions in contracts, grants and federal leases.

The agency itself had a relatively short lifespan.

President Donald Trump established DOGE through an executive order, but the same order also set a July 4, 2026, end date for its operations. Elon Musk initially led the department before stepping away from day-to-day responsibilities after only a few months.

Democratic lawmakers seize on audit findings

The GAO review was requested by Democratic Senators Gary Peters of Michigan and Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut, who sought an independent assessment of DOGE's financial claims.

Responding to the report, Peters said efforts to eliminate government waste should be based on verifiable evidence rather than unsubstantiated claims.

He accused DOGE of taking credit for savings that were already in progress, failing to provide supporting documentation and weakening the government's ability to effectively serve the public.

Debate over DOGE's legacy likely to continue

The audit does not conclude that all of DOGE's reported savings were inaccurate, but it does cast doubt on some of the agency's most widely cited figures.

With questions now surrounding how billions of dollars in claimed savings were calculated, the report is likely to fuel continued political debate over the effectiveness, transparency and long-term legacy of Elon Musk's government efficiency initiative.

(With AP inputs0