Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, says it has saved $160 billion through its push to root out wasteful or fraudulent government spending. But that effort may also have come at a cost for taxpayers, with a new analysis from a nonpartisan research and advocacy group estimating that DOGE's actions will cost $135 billion this fiscal year.
The $135 billion cost to taxpayers doesn't include the expense of defending multiple lawsuits challenging DOGE's actions, nor the impact of estimated lost tax collections due to staff cuts at the IRS.
(emphasis mine)
... DOGE $160 Billon Savings Has Cost $135 Billion ... The $135 billion cost to taxpayers doesn't include the expense of defending multiple lawsuits challenging DOGE's actions, nor the impact of estimated lost tax collections due to staff cuts at the IRS. ...
Bingo.
Half a trillion vanished? IRS bombshell as agency warns DOGE may have cost U.S. a shocking $500 billion; here's the full detail (March 25, 2025)
economictimes.indiatimes.com
... Synopsis
The IRS estimates a $500 billion loss due to the Trump administration's Department of Government Efficiency's disruptions.
DOGE reduced IRS staff, including laying off 20,000 workers, impacting tax processing and fraud investigations.
This could strain government services or raise the national deficit, making it significant compared to US non-defense discretionary spending....
How much has Elon Musk's Doge cut from US government spending?
www.bbc.com
... Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (Doge) - set up to cut US government spending - claims to have saved, on average, more than $10bn a week since President Trump entered office.
"We're talking about almost $200bn and rising fast," Trump told the BBC when talking about Mr Musk's cost-cutting drive on 23 April.
Doge's website says it is focusing on cancelling contracts, grants and leases put in place by previous administrations, as well as tackling fraud and reducing the government workforce.
BBC Verify has looked at the agency's biggest claimed savings, examining the figures and speaking to experts.
Our analysis found that behind some of the large numbers, there is a lack of evidence to back them up. ...
There's a chart in the article that shows $160 billion estimated savings, $61.5 billion itemized savings, and only $32.5 billion savings with a receipt attached.
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