Elon Musk's Doge and Its Controversial Claims on US Government Savings

Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (Doge) claims to have saved the U.S. government around $200 billion since its inception. However, analysis reveals a concerning lack of evidence supporting these savings, with many numbers appearing overstated or speculative.

Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency, colloquially called Doge, is facing scrutiny over its claims of substantial savings for the U.S. government, reportedly amounting to over $10 billion a week since its establishment. Speaking to BBC's reporters, former President Trump applauded the initiative, stating, "We're talking about almost $200 billion and rising fast," but the reality behind these assertions raises significant questions.

Doge's website asserts that it is actively engaged in canceling contracts, grants, and leases initiated by previous administrations while focusing on combating fraud and reducing the federal workforce. However, an investigation by BBC Verify has identified troubling discrepancies between the claimed savings figures and the supporting evidence.

Doge's ambitious goal originally aimed to trim "at least $2 trillion" from the federal budget—a target that Musk later halved. As of April 10, he set a more modest aim of $150 billion stemming from efforts to cut fraud and waste by the end of the fiscal year 2026. The federal budget was recorded at $6.75 trillion for the last fiscal year.

A review of the data posted on Doge's website indicated that while savings are touted at $160 billion, less than 40% of this amount is systematically detailed, and much of the savings lack verifiable evidence. Notably, accounting errors have surfaced, including a misrepresented $8 billion saving from an immigration contract that was only valued at $8 million.

In examining Doge's top four documented savings, BBC Verify found that reported figures can be misleading. The largest claimed saving, $2.9 billion, derives from canceling a Texas-based contract for a facility intended to house up to 3,000 unaccompanied migrant children. However, insiders report this figure is speculative, as costs incurred by the facility had never approached that ceiling due to the contract's annual review structure.

Other savings claimed by Doge include $1.9 billion from an Internal Revenue Service contract that was said to have totaled $0 expensed, and another $1.76 billion attributed to the cancellation of a Department of Defense contract—both lacking substantial substantiation. Furthermore, $1.75 billion was listed as saved from a terminated USAID grant to Gavi, but Gavi has publicly stated it has not received any notice regarding this termination.

In summary, while Doge claims to have significantly cut government spending, the absence of robust evidence for its major savings makes it impossible to validate these assertions accurately. BBC Verify has sought additional clarification from the White House on these matters, emphasizing the importance of accountability in government expenditure.