Its ‘Wall of Receipts’ on its new website catalogues where the department has made cuts and how much those cuts are worth
Morgan Sweeney
The Center Square
The month-old Department of Government Efficiency led by billionaire Elon Musk has saved American taxpayers $55 billion, according to the latest update from the group.
Its ‘Wall of Receipts’ on its new website catalogues where the department has made cuts and how much those cuts are worth. The biggest line item on ‘the wall’ is one from the Department of Homeland Security for $8 billion. The U.S. Agency for International Development appears the most in DOGE’s records and so far, shows more than $6.5 billion slashed from its budget, according to the site, though it is still being updated. USAID and the Department of Education top DOGE’s list for ‘total contract savings’ for government agencies. The DHS is sixth.
On Feb. 14, with a nod to Valentine’s Day, DOGE posted a rhyming update on social media platform X about its work.
“Roses are red, violets are blue, Today, DOGE and 10 agencies made 586 wasteful contracts bid adieu!”
The post went on to specifically mention an $8.2 million U.S. Department of Agriculture contract for “environmental compliance services for the implementation of pilot projects developed under the partnership for climate smart commodities”.
The department has also defunded various diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives across the government. The savings it has found are “a combination of fraud detection/deletion, contract/lease cancellations, contract/lease renegotiations, asset sales, grant cancellations, workforce reductions, programmatic changes, and regulatory savings.”
DOGE, created by an executive order on President Donald Trump’s first day in office, is embroiled in controversy over whether it is surpassing the Constitutional authority of the executive branch. There is also concern over Elon Musk’s role as a “special government employee” and conflicts of interest that may arise.
For now, though, the cuts keep rolling in.
This report was first published by The Center Square.
- Battle Ground shooting suspect arrested, second suspect still outstanding
Theodore Seaman, 44, was arrested for Drive-By Shooting; a second suspect fled on foot and has not been located. - High school football: Odd schedule leads to early start to league play in 4A GSHL
The 4A GSHL’s six-game schedule forces all four teams to play each other twice, a first since 2015. - High school football: Skyview takes down Camas for first win in rivalry since 2011
Adarius Sparrow caught three touchdown passes, including two in the fourth quarter, to seal Skyview’s 38-21 win over Camas. - Camas School District Legislative Advocacy Committee to host Candidate Forum
Six candidates from two federal and state districts will answer education questions at Discovery High School on Oct. 5. - Vehicle drives into Camas townhouse
A vehicle backing into a parking stall jumped a curb and struck a Camas townhouse, causing extensive damage but no injuries. - Business profile: Cowlitz Indian Tribe now running the steakhouse at ilani, ‘Sovereign’
Sovereign, the new fine-dining steakhouse at ilani, marks a major milestone in the Cowlitz Indian Tribe’s move toward self-operating all restaurants at the casino. - Northwest rail fans eager for Sept. 30 debut of Amtrak’s Airo fleet
Amtrak’s 300-passenger Airo trains debut Sept. 30 on Cascades route, adding seats but not speed or frequency.